Soldier's Running Aids Wounded Warriors
(May 14, 2011) |
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| NORTH SHORE, Hawaii (Army News Service, May 11, 2011) --
People run grueling 26-mile marathons for all kinds of
reasons -- for a personal challenge, because they're
competitive, or maybe because it's just a great way to stay
physically fit. |
Staff Sgt. Marc
Dibernardo, E Company, 2nd Assault Helicopter
Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat
Aviation Brigade, runs for Soldiers wounded in
combat in the North Shore Marathon with
assistance from members of Team Red, White, and
Blue at North Shore, Hawaii, May 1, 2011. Photo
by Army Capt. Michael Linnington |
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None of those are the primary reasons why Staff
Sgt. Marc Dibernardo pounds pavement.
A
member of E Company, 2-25th Assault Helicopter
Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade,
Dibernardo runs to raise cash for the support
and recovery of wounded warriors, and he's been
running donned in shorts, shoes, t-shirt -- and
gas mask since 2003.
While he runs for
all wounded warriors - Sailors, Airmen, Marines
and Soldiers, Dibernardo's participation in the
North Shore Marathon on May 1, 2011, was in
memory of 10 friends he lost either in
Afghanistan or who succumbed back home from
their combat wounds.
After crossing the
finish line, Dibernardo was unofficially
informed he finished the course in 3 hours, 49
minutes and 42 seconds, breaking the previous
world record by five minutes for an individual
running a marathon in a gas mask.
Sponsored by Team Red, White and Blue, a
non-profit organization that aids wounded
warriors by sponsoring extreme athletes,
Dibernardo helps the team with a unique support
system for veterans, families and friends
recovering from injuries received from combat
operations.
Donations raised by the team
are used to fund the reintegration of wounded
warriors back into the civilian world after
being released from the hospital or military. |
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Dibernardo's quick to point out - "the fallen and wounded
warriors are the heroes. I'm not a hero. They're heroes," he
said. "This is the best way I know how to let the world know
about the sacrifices being made by our Soldiers."
In
addition to his team sponsors, members from the battalion
chain of command rallied behind him.
"I'm very proud
of him, it's an outstanding thing what he's doing and a
great reason why he's doing it," said 1st Sgt. Henry Wood.
"I'm really proud of him it's incredible what he is
doing running a marathon and in a gas mask. We let him do
his own training during physical fitness time," added his
company commander Capt. Lindsay Maples. |
By Army Capt. Ozzie Santiago Smith III
25th Combat
Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
Copyright 2011 | |
Reprinted from
Army News Service
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