Saturday
01Mar
Amputee Returns to Combat to Help Iraq "Any Way I Can"
Saturday, March 1, 2008 at 10:06PM Twenty-one months ago, Marine Gunnery Sergeant Spanky Gibson was hit by a sniper’s bullet in Ramadi, Iraq. He lost his leg from the knee down.
Now GY SGT Gibson is the 1st full leg amputee to return to combat in a war zone. And he asked to go back. Watch his amazing story:
“This is where we were 232 years ago as a nation. Now they’re (Iraq) starting a new nation. I’m back here to help in any way I can.”
Wow. This is truly the new greatest generation.
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Reader Comments (25)
I saw this story earlier, it is quite amazing. Whats even more amazing is that he is not alone, I saw a story about a soldier missing a foot volunteer and serve. You know what, take all the technology, its does not match the Human Spirit.
Cool.
These sorts of stories confound the anti-war left who think troops need to be rescued from the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. I love it.
As long as an American warrior's heart and mind are whole, body damage can't take away their honor and bravery. He's just hurt, not injured, so let him suit up and get back in the game. God be with each and all of these great Americans who have no quit in them.
It is an amazing story, and he made it clear that he wanted to be with his buddies.
Now, why don't you guys chip in and buy him the proper helmet, and body armor so that this time he doesn't come back worse of, or worse.
one more thing i think this points out, the value of an armed force made up of volunteers over an armed force of draftees.
I would agree, only our forces are now stretched thin.
I would agree, only our forces are now stretched thin.
I don't think mud actually watches the videos. He didn't say he wanted to return to be with his "buddies" (she's confusing this thread with her identical talking points on the Marines Re-enlisting post), Gibson said he wanted to return to help Iraq in any way he can. He said Iraq is a new democracy like we were over 200 years ago and he wants to help Iraq get on its feet.
Griper, it is unprecedented. This is the first time in history that I can recall in which the U.S. military didn't use a draft in a time of war. It really speaks to the incredible character of our forces today.
I can only hope to be that brave in my lifetime.
God bless him, and his family. And a big, warm "thank you" goes out from me to all of the brave military men and women (and their families) serving our country; putting themselves in harms way so I can enjoy my life back here at home.
It's people this who rekindle my faith in people. As long as people like this exist, not all is lost.
God speed, all of you. I salute every single one of you.
Best -
Braden
Amy - During WW2 - "Uncle Sam Wants You" everybody was on board. People enlisted in droves...our military operated in multiple theaters of battle over several seas, and multiple countries, and continents. You need to bone up on history. You just make statements out of hand. Oh, and btw - did you ever look up Petraeus' combat history? Of which there is none, never saw a day of it. Man, you conveniently let that subject drop like a stone, if you even bothered to look it up, which I doubt.
*****
Braden - Uncle Sam Wants You - so why don't you enlist? Or do you have other priorities?
There was a draft for that war, mud. Obviously Uncle Sam wanted YOU but not everyone wanted Uncle Sam.
You cannot provide a link about anything because you have nothing to back you up. Petraeus served in Iraq 3 times. As a commander leading troops and training Iraqis in the COMBAT ZONE he would have ample COMBAT EXPERIENCE. He was also in Bosnia when Clinton was dropping bombs, Haiti and the first Gulf War.
YOU were supposed to look up his history but of course since your idiotic comments cannot be substaniated you have to ask me to fact find for you.
What is wrong wiht you, mud? Are you pretending to be this dumb or are you legit?
Braden, beautiful sentiments. Thanks!
Mudkitty,
You've got to be kidding. So I express my heartfelt thanks to our military and their families, and you respond with "Braden - Uncle Sam Wants You - so why don't you enlist? Or do you have other priorities?"
Please. So what you're saying is I should enlist if I support our troops and their families, right? Do you see how absolutely absurd your response was, or are you simply getting your responses directly from the DailyKOS play book?
Let me ask you this, Mudkitty:
How could leaving Saddam in power promote peace and justice to the Iraqi people?
And more importantly, I don't see you standing in line to serve the people of Darfur, do I? But then again, CodePink and other liberal moonbat groups want us to send our military into Darfur to do the very same thing we're now doing in Iraq.
Liberalism never ceases to amaze me. Book smart, life dumb. Plain and simple.
And finally, I'll make you a deal, Mudkitty: I'll enlist to serve when you go over to Darfur.
So, why don't you enlist? It's not like you're the only one expressing your heartfelt thanks.
Why does your enlisting depend on me? Braden?
Actually, there are a lot of "moonbat groops" trying to do something about Darfar. All you have to do is google them to find out. Name one rightwing group trying to do something about Darfar. Name one. You can't, hypocrite. As if you even care about Darfar.
So what's keeping you from enlisting to serve in the Iraqi cause you so believe in? Do tell.
Yes. I AM saying you should enlist. Why not? Why should you not enlist?
Why should *I* enlist, Mudkitty? Because I support our troops? Using your logic, if I support Walmart, I guess I should work there, too, no?
Do you see the foolishness you subscribe to? And it's people like you who want to be in charge of our health care? God save us all.
Once again (not that you'll comprehend a word I have written) I will offer you the deal: I'll enlist when you go to Darfur. It's only fair. After all, isn't fairness is what it is all about when you're a liberal? Fairness, tolerance, love, and all the other hypocritical nonsense your peers boast to adhere to.
It's pretty clear the following applies to Mudkitty:
When liberalism conflicts with reality, reality must give way.
And finally, I'll ask you this once more:
How could leaving Saddam in power promote peace and justice to the people of Iraq?
C'mon Mudkitty, answer the question. Or will you follow the liberal Democrat doctrine of answering a question with a question?
Heh.
Braden, she's a leftie from California. She doesn't make any sense ever. She's also a class-A jerk.
Army families like mine, however, are really touched by your support. I was moved by what you had to say and its people like you that really help boost our morale when we deal with all the stuff the Army requires us to do.
Maybe mudd will learn from your example what supporting the troops is all about. Much thanks. :)
Well, let's use mud's logic. She believes in abortion. When's the last time she had one? She probably believes in assisted suicide. Gonna make good on that, mud? How much money have y ou donated to fight AIDS in Africa? Is that a cause you believe in?
I'd also suggest mud give us a list of things she supports. I recall you vehemently saying you support the troops..;.why dont' YOU join the military, then? Or at least not berate Army wives?
If you cannot give us any causes you believe in,which you won't because you don't want to box yourself in, then that shows you believe in nothing and have no authroity to tell other people who do what to do.
I don't have to believe in abortion. Abortion exists. One doesn't have to believe in it. It's just a fact.
As I've had two ectopic (tubal pregnancies) I've had two abortions. I would have died without the abortions. Anti-abortion people flat out
lie when they say there's no medical reason's for abortion. I hope your satisfied now, Amy.
And yes, I've donated to causes for finding a cure, and treatments for AIDS, in the United States, and around the globe.
I support the troops, that's why I'm resent them having been sent as George Bush's sitting ducks, and having the Bush administration lie us into this quagmire.
Every time, Amy, and I mean every time, you make the statement that I don't support the troops, you are bearing false witness. I may not support the troops the way you want me to, but I do support the troops, whether you like it or not. And last I looked, this is America, and in America we are free to disagree. And all the stomping up and down and insisting that I don't support the troops, doesn't make it any less of a lie. Repeating a lie doesn't make it true. And from what I understand, and from the way I was raised, lying is a sin.
*****
Braden - with well over 100,000 dead civilians, and 5 million displaced
refuges, I'd say, not only is it a silly question, but my answer would be that Iraqi's were better off when Saddam was "contained" before the war. When polled, that's what the Iraqis think as well.
*****
I support many things, but this is just to address the points you brought up. I support many things, but that doesn't mean I don't support this war, which is my right as an American, and I don't support jingoism, or blind nationalism. I support the troops, but not the war. If you can't tell the difference, you need to go back to grammar school.
"Braden - with well over 100,000 dead civilians, and 5 million displaced
refuges, I'd say, not only is it a silly question, but my answer would be that Iraqi's were better off when Saddam was "contained" before the war. When polled, that's what the Iraqis think as well."
-- Taken straight from the DailyKos playbook.
You can't handle the truth.
On second thought, please, please don't enlist, B.
Mudkitty:
And Please tell me where you get 100,000 from. Please show me which George Soros sponsored group came up with that.
Enlighten me, Mudkitty.
While you're at it, Mudkitty....just how many joints do you smoke per day? I can hear you now:
*taking in a big hit on a joint* "Yeah man, there is just no way man I am going to like get a real job man" *another hit* "So like, I will just drive around the country man and march in a peace rally man" *another hit* "You know man I think I am going to be a college professor man" *another hit* I hate Capitalism man, it's just so American!" *yet another hit* Yeah man, I still have memories of Woodstock man!"
Enough said.
*laughs*
Iraqis are better off now than under Saddam. That's a non-negotiable. 400,000 Iraqi children under the age of five died between 1998-2003 under Saddam from preventable diseases according to Human rigths watch. THOSE ARE JUST CHILDREN UNDER FIVE! Anyone with 1/2 a heart will be relieved for these Iraqis that even in a time of war less than that have died over the last 5 years. Of course it's horrible but the idea is to slow the rate until Iraq becomes a stabilized country and has passed through a very dark 4 decades.
To say someone who supports the war should enlist is like saying someone who supports clean teeth should become a dentist or someone who supports fire extinguishment should become a fireman. Those are specialized vocations and what really boosts the morale of a soldier is when a civilian like Braden publicly backs the progress in the war effort. There's no way to measure the satisfaction that brings to soldiers and their families.
Thanks for support the troops and their mission, Braden!