|
 FORWARD
OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan (3/23/2012) - “Every corpsman
wants to be out there to help protect and save the Marines that we
serve with,” said Petty Officer 1st Class George Fricke, leading
petty officer, Regimental Aid Station, Regimental Combat Team 6.
On Sept. 9, 2011, Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian Lundy Jr., a
Navy corpsman with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, gave his life
while protecting the Marines he served with.
Standing in
front of a formation of Marines and sailors with RCT-6, Col. John
Shafer and Sgt. Maj. Jamie Deets, commanding officer and regimental
sergeant major, RCT-6 honored Lundy during a ceremony March 23.
Together, Shafer and Deets helped Fricke to memorialize his
fellow corpsman by officially naming the Regimental Aid Station the
Lundy Clinic.
To the Marines who served with Lundy, he was
more than a “squid” – a Marine term to describe sailors. He was a
Fleet Marine Force hospital corpsman.
“There is nothing like
a group of Marines, and there is nothing like being a sailor in that
group of Marines. It's tough,” said Shafer. “There is something
special about that FMF corpsman that can take that, and prove his
[worth].”
While on a partnered patrol, in Helmand province,
Afghanistan, Lundy proved his worth when his squad took enemy fire.
During the fight, an insurgent shot Lundy. The squad evacuated
him to a nearby medical facility, but Lundy succumbed to his wounds
while en route.
“I can assure you, Lundy died doing exactly
what he wanted to do,” said Shafer. “Which was reassuring Marines
who were going forward in the face of a fight, to defend our way of
life and advance a cause for the Afghan people. You can always be
certain that he contributed to the betterment of this nation.”
Shafer went on to add that Lundy died while ensuring others
could live.
Before reading Lundy's citation, Petty Officer
2nd Class James Vanzella, religious program specialist with RCT-6
and friend of Lundy's, shared a favorite memory of his fallen
brother.
Vanzella recalled when the two went through field
medical training together at Camp Johnson, N.C.
“He was one
of those guys from Texas that had to let you know he was from
Texas,” said Vanzella. “He wore Longhorn hats and sweatshirts all
the time.”
Vanzella said despite the circumstances, Lundy
always motivated the sailors. Once during training, the sailors
watched a staff sergeant demonstrate an obstacle course in 30 degree
weather. At the end of the course, the sailors were required to jump
into a pond. Due to the cold weather, the staff sergeant waded
hesitantly into the water.
“Lundy being who Lundy was
screamed ‘Let me show you how we do it in the Navy!' With a leap,
larger than superman, he swan dived – not so gracefully – into the
water,” said Vanzella with a smile. “He motivated the class.
Everyone was chanting ‘Lundy, Lundy, Lundy.' We were ready for that
course that day. It wasn't cold anymore.”
His ability to
motivate continues for the Marines and sailors at the aid station.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Antonio Saenz, assistant leading petty
officer with the aid station, said having the clinic named after
Lundy was inspiring.
“His name inspires the junior sailors
who work in this clinic because he died doing what corpsmen are
trained to do; serve along side Marines, serve in action,” said
Saenz. “It was a great honor to name something after him that will
be here for a long time.”
The regimental aid station, with
it's newly hung sign, tells more than a name. It tells a story of a
Navy corpsman, who gave everything for the Marines he served with.
“Lundy you deserve this clinic, and this clinic deserves to be
in your name,” said Vanzella.
Photos of Fallen Corpsman Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian Lundy Jr.
Being Honored by his comrades
By USMC Lance Cpl. Timothy Lenzo
Regimental Combat Team 6
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
Comment on this article |
