Marines need to support fellow Marines
Posted : Saturday Jun 4, 2011 12:35:41 EDT
Jeremiah Workman was a mess.
The Navy Cross recipient — so recognized for his leadership during a gruesome 2004 firefight in Iraq — suffered from horrible nightmares and survivor’s guilt. He had flashbacks and was unable to control his temper.
After a meltdown in front of recruits at Parris Island, S.C., Workman was removed from drill instructor duty, diagnosed with PTSD and reassigned — as a janitor.
He tried to kill himself.
His wife and child moved out.
Leadership had failed him.
Then in 2007, Workman found a lifeline. Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent, the newly appointed sergeant major of the Marine Corps, did what no one else had: He stepped in to help a Marine in need.
“I called his battalion sergeant major, and his first thing to me was, ‘Hey, Sergeant Major Kent, that sergeant ain’t nothing but a problem,’ ” Kent told Marines during a recent trip abroad. “I said, ‘Stop. He’s not your problem no more. He’s our problem.’ And I said, ‘Have him report to the Pentagon.’ ”
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Marines need to support fellow Marines
Thank you Sgt Major Kent. You and I had a couple discussions concerning Jeremiah and I can truly see a marked difference in him. I wish you well in all your future endeavors. You fought a very big battle in getting him back to normal. It is now very nice to get a call from my daughter and not be worried about what fresh hell is going on in their life.
ReplyDeleteSincerely, Von Beal (Jeremiah's Father in Law)