Luck Strikes Wounded Marine
(April 18, 2011) |
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Corporal John Cooney during his first tour in 2006. Photo provided by John Cooney |
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PITTSBURGH, Pa. (MCN - April 14, 2011) — Leadership,
discipline, integrity, honor and hard work these are all of
the lessons that Cpl. John Conney credits to his success.
Corporal Cooney had to learn these lessons the hard way just
like every Marine does. He never believed in the phrase,
“one-half of life is luck; the other half is discipline.”
All of his life was geared toward disciplining his mind and
body. However, Cooney would soon find out that luck would
play a major role in his life.
In August 2005, Cooney joined the Marine Corps as a
0311 Infantry Rifleman. “Being a Marine is something that I
wanted to do since I was young,” said Cooney. “When the
opportunity came I immediately signed up.”
Since gaining the title United States Marine, Cooney
has deployed twice to Iraq. September 25, 2006
during his first tour, Cooney and his unit, 2nd
Light Armored Reconnaissance, Charlie Company 2nd
platoon, were in progress |
of searching personal vehicles at a traffic control
point. Around a quarter after twelve, Cooney recalls
waiting for the next car to be sent over so he went
to grab a cigarette.
“I bent down to grab my
lighter,” said Cooney. “That is when I felt a round
penetrate the left side of my neck.” |
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Left to Right - Corporal Kevin Plummer and Cpl. Anthony Demarco, the Marines from 2nd platoon who are credited with saving Cpl. John Conney's life in Rutbah, Iraq, greet Conney during a homecoming ceremony. Corporal Cooney was shot in the neck while searching personal vehicles at a traffic control point September 25, 2006. Photo provided by John Cooney |
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Within seconds
Cooney and his unit were under heavy sniper and machine gun
fire. Yet, the courageous service members of 2nd platoon
were able to reach Cooney within minutes of his injury.
Cooney remained positive while his senior Marines Cpl.
Kevin Plummer, Cpl. Anthony Demarco and his Corpsman Dustin
Black carried him to safety. In shock during the time he was
shot, Cooney remembers making jokes. He credits the swift
action of his Marines as the real reason for his confidence
and survival. Cooney believes that the tragic events that
occurred during his deployment happened for a reason.
“Every day I have memories of the events that got me
here,” said Cooney. “But I consider myself very
lucky. If I did not bend down at that moment, the
round |
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would have penetrated my head.” |
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Since being injured Cooney was
sent from a traffic control point on the outskirts of Rutbah,
Iraq to Landstuhl, Germany and then to Bethesda, Md. for
more treatment, surgery and physical rehab before going home
to Pittsburgh, Pa. where he was an outpatient at the local
Veterans Affairs Hospital.
“I still have many
struggles but I've come a long way,” said Cooney.
With the help of his fellow Marines, Cooney was able to get
his life back on track. In 2007 Cooney learned about the
Marine Corps
Wounded Warrior Regiment through his best
friend Cpl. John Chmill. The Wound Warrior Regiment stood up
in 2007 to provide and facilitate non-medical care to combat
and non-combat wounded, ill, and injured Marines, and
sailors attached to or in direct support of Marine units and
their family members in order to assist them as they return
to duty or transition to civilian life.
Cooney's case
was immediately taken over by Gunnery Sgt. Michael Palarino
a District Injured Support Cell at the Regiment. The DISC
are mobilized reserve Marines who are located throughout the
country to conduct face-to-face visits and telephone
outreach to wounded, ill and injured Marines and their
families who are recovering within their assigned region.
As a DISC, Gunnery Sgt. Palarino is equipped with the
knowledge and expertise to assist Marines through various
procedures, including the Physical Evaluation Board. Gunnery
Sgt. Palarino worked on getting Cooney set up with the
Veterans Affairs Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa. Within a few
months of speaking with Palarino, Cooney had received his
disability rating and was now completing the Board for
Correction of Naval Records process. According to the Naval
Inspector General, the BCNR was created by Congress in 1946
to provide a method for correction of errors or removal of
injustices from current and former Navy and Marine Corps
member's records without the necessity for private
legislation.
Today Palarino continues to meet with
Cpl. Cooney and other wounded, ill and injured Marines in
the Pennsylvania and West Virginia region.
“Palarino
is 100 percent awesome,” said Cooney. “He always calls to
just check up on me and it is not always about the effects
of my injury. He asks about my day to day personal issues.
We definitely need more Marines like him.”
Since
Cooney's honorable discharged in 2009, Gunnery Sgt. Palarino
and his network have also played a major role in finding
Cooney a job. Gunnery Sgt. Palarino received information
regarding several positions from Mr. Richard Waller, Marine
for Life's Employment Manager. According to the Marine For
Life website, the goal of the program is to harness the
skills, contacts and personal and professional networks of
Marine Corps veterans and others in the community—to form a
network to help Marines find job opportunities within their
field.
After an extensive search and a lot of
preparation Cooney finally found a job that matched his
expertise. He was excited to build his future at a job in
corporate America. March 21, 2011 marked Cooney's first day
as a security supervisor for loss prevention at American
Eagle's Corporate Office.
“My first day was
awesome,” said Cooney. “It is not going to be easy but I
know that I can succeed at this.”
Cooney wants to
encourage other wounded, ill and injured Marines to stay
positive throughout their recovery and transition process.
“The whole idea behind me wanting to have my story
told is to motivate my fellow Marines out there. Even though
I do not currently wear the uniform I am still a United
States Marine. I will always do anything in my power to
uphold our Corps values and to show other Marines that no
matter what we endured in life, sky is the limit. We are
warriors,” said Cooney. "We survived some of the worse
situations and if we can do that, we can do anything.” |
By Aquita Brown
Marine Corps
Wounded Warrior Regiment
Copyright 2011 | |
Reprinted from
Marine Corps News
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