I went to high school and met a great guy named Chris Campbell. We were very close friends, even fighting once over the same girl, and nearly losing our friendship. But life perseveres.
Tonight, for some reason, I wondered what had become of him. Because, as is so often the case, we lose track of our friend after high school. I knew Chris had joined the US Marines and had gotten married, but other than that, I had no idea where he was.
A good google search led me to this news article from Navy News:
Campbell was wounded in the arm by shrapnel during a battle at Nasiriyah, Iraq, March 26. He was treated in Kuwait before being transferred to Fleet Hospital (FH) 8 in Rota April 5.
Before leaving Kuwait, Campbell was awarded the Purple Heart by Marine Lt. Gen. E.B. Haliston, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Pacific. The Purple Heart is awarded to any member of the U.S. Armed Forces killed or wounded in an armed conflict.
Sure looks like Chris in that picture. And I had no idea he was in harm’s way.
Semper Fi, Chris