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Maimed OIF vet mulls future in Marine Corps
Gunnery Sgt. David J. Dill never saw it coming. He knew the dangers. Heâd trained to disarm them for years. But bad luck, bad timing and the dangerous nature of clearing minefields caught up to him. Dill, the staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge of 1st Combat Engineer Battalionâs Sapper Course, lost his lower left leg to an Iraqi land mine during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 19-year veteran was on a mine-marking assignment with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion when the explosion occurred. "I was proud to go to Iraq to fight for what I believe in," Dill said. "But it was definitely an eye-opening experience for me."He thought heâd make 20 years and retire until the explosion knocked him to the ground and changed the course of his future. His wife, Christine, said her husband called right after his operation to inform her about his accident. "He jumped right into gunny mode when the land mine went off," Christine said of the stories related to her. "When his fellow Marines rushed to assist him, he halted them to ensure their safety." She added that Dill was surrounded by land mines. It took 30 minutes for Marines to evacuate him from the danger zone. Dill was left shattered. His lower left leg was a tangle of bone, torn flesh and blood. Later, it would be completely removed. Recovery is slow and frustrating, but Dill is able to partake in activities he enjoys. He golfs, fishes and hunts and keeps a regular workout schedule at the gym. Still, not all is normal. At home, Dill sometimes struggles with routine everyday activities, Christine said. Activites that were once second nature and easily tackled are now major hurdles for the combat engineer. Running is frustrating for Dill. He used to enjoy stretching out his legs for long runs. She tries to help her husband during these hard times. "You do what you have to do for the people you love," Christine said. Dill, a sapper instructor, said he was expecting a medical discharge after he returned from deployment. But now, since he is close to retiring, heâs hoping to be allowed to finish out his 20-year career. Besides, he can still do his job, he said. A colleague confirmed it. "The injury has not affected Gunny Dillâs working performance at all," said Staff Sgt. Raymond A. Valdez, a Sapper instructor who lost his left eye during the same explosion. For Dill, his workâs not done in the Marine Corps. Heâs still got experience and nearly 20 yearsâ worth of lessons to impart to young Marines. Itâs a passion that drives him to teach courses now. "I would like to pass on some of the values I got from the Marine Corps to the next generation," Dill said. "I definitely have no regrets in my Marine Corps career," Dill said. "We donât join the Marine Corps to get injured. We just join knowing there is a risk." These are the types of men I have the privelege of serving with each day. I hope the Corps lets him finish out his 20. This guy is exactly the type of warrior young Marines need to be around. His experience and hard-charging attitude is exactly what I look for in a SNCO. You are not going to hear any negativity or whining from a professional of this caliber - wonder if the NYT picked up on this - yeah, I know. My prayers are with him and his family. Posted by: Jarhead 2003-12-08 |
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