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TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - From the main gate of the Combat
Center to Shadow Mountain housing, Marines lined the streets. Some
held welcome home posters and others waved miniature American flags,
all waited for one person. The sound of approaching motorcycles grew
louder. He's almost here.
The Marines of 1st Battalion, 7th
Marine Regiment, welcomed home Staff Sgt. Brandon Dodson, November
17, 2014.
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U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Brandon Dodson, platoon sergeant, Baker Co, 1st
Battalion, 7th Marines, is welcomed by Marines of 1/7 at the Combat
Center, Nov. 17, 2014. Marines from the entire battalion lined the
streets from the Combat Center's main entrance to Dodson's house,
unbeknownst to him. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Medina
Ayala-Lo)
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“His wife wanted to do a big homecoming for him when he
started feeling good,” said Gunnery Sgt. Hector Jose Angulo,
friend of Dodson. “It started out as the company but then we
ended up getting the whole battalion involved. Everybody was
on board and everybody was willing to welcome him back.”
Dodson, who served as a platoon sergeant, was deployed
to Afghanistan for six months when the injury occurred. On
August 9, 2014, while conducting a routine patrol in Helmand
Province, he stepped on a roadside bomb. He lost both legs.
“The one thing he wanted to
do was see his Marines since he didn't get to come back with
them,” Angulo said. “You can say he's complete because he
was able to see them.”
For the last three months,
Dodson has been recuperating with the wounded warriors
physical rehabilitation program at Walter Reed Military
Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Dodson plans on staying in
Twentynine Palms long enough to attend his unit's Marine
Corps birthday ball this weekend. After the ball he will be
returning to Maryland to continue his rehabilitation.
“I've known Staff Sgt. [Dodson] since 2008. I met him at
D.I School and that's where our friendship began,” Angulo
said. “He's a man's man. He's really easy to get along with,
won't hesitate to tell you how it is.”
Upon landing
in Palm Springs, Dodson and his family were greeted by the
battalion Sergeant Major and the Commanding Officer. Dodson,
a motorcycle enthusiast, was escorted to his house by a
motorcycle brigade and when he arrived, he was warmly
greeted by the Marines of Baker Company.
“It's
absolutely amazing. It really shows me how much influence I
have in the battalion and on the Marines, that they would do
this for me,” Dodson said.
Being able to see his
family and friends again in such a grand way, touched Dodson
and he was able to do the one thing he was looking forward
to: reunite with his Marines.
“Even though he's been
gone for almost four months now, I hope he feels welcome and
still part of the First Team," said Sgt. Maj. Chasen E.
Getty, battalion sergeant major, 1/7.
By U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Medina Ayala-Lo
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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