It's Holy Week: In the spirit of the season, what is the greatest example of compassion or mercy you have experienced during your career?

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 09:54:10 -0400

It's Holy Week. In accordance with Christian belief, this is when Christ made the ultimate act of love, compassion, mercy, and grace by dying for the sins of all mankind, then arose from the dead and ascended into Heaven. Whether you are a Christian or not, sacrificing one's life to prevent the future suffering of others is a pretty courageous act.

In the spirit of this season, whether you are a Christian or not, it doesn't matter, please share with us the most amazing act of love, grace, humility, mercy, or compassion that you have witnessed during your time in service.

Response by TSgt John Dias made Apr 2 at 2015 10:18 AM

TSgt John Dias — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 10:18:16 -0400

There was this time I escorted a bag of remains (consisted of a foot and what amounted to 1/2 a mangled torso) through multiple stations (photography; dental; anthropology; etc) in response to the crash of KAL 801 (Aug 97) on Guam. After completing that task I helped out at the embalming station for the rest of the day. Humbling experience knowing you're helping over 200 families through their grief and final journey of their loved ones.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 2 at 2015 11:34 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 11:34:31 -0400

This is the one I remember the best.

We're in bootcamp, third phase, probably about 2 weeks from graduation. One of our guy's Father passes. Red cross message comes in, and they're getting him home for the funeral. Just a couple days, and he's coming back to us.

Series GySgt comes on deck, in civilian attire. Something we had never seen before. Our DI's just kind of "disappear" for a moment with the one guy. Teaching him how to wear the EGA etc.

Gunny tells us. "Something like this happens. You pass around the hat. Toss in what you can spare. You never know when it might be you, and you have to make an emergency trip. We take care of our own."

He disappears, hat gets passed around, our guy has enough for a plane ticket, and our DI's "reappear," as though this never happened.

Response by SSG Rob Cline made Apr 2 at 2015 12:41 PM

SSG Rob Cline — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 12:41:51 -0400

2003, Northern Baghdad.
We had just finished a meeting with some village elders and upon returning to RTE Irish to head back to our FOB (Martyr's Monument) we came upon a child who had been hit by a car. Since I was the senior CLS and EMT, we stopped, and I rendered assistance. The child had head lacerations and an avulsion (missing chunk of flesh) on his back. We patched him up, gave IV and EVAC'd him to the closest local hospital, about 3 miles away. We also scooped up the boys grandfather to stay with him at the hospital.
The grandfather couldn't thank us enough as we approached the ER. Looking back, we never had any disturbances from that area of Northern Baghdad again.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Apr 2 at 2015 3:08 PM

COL Ted Mc — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 15:08:22 -0400

A medic (who shall remain nameless) staying behind to tend to enemy (which shall remain nameless) wounded at a time and place I'm not at liberty to mention while the rest of the "friendlies" moved back to avoid probable defeat.