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 April
19, 2012 - The mission really started upon
graduation from Mooresville High School in 2008, when he decided he
was going to join the Marine Corps. From a family history of
military service, Garrett knew this was his obligation to God,
family and country. Like all young men and women who serve in the
Marine Corps, he didn't know being part of its long history was
going to be a lot different than on the football field of
Mooresville High School. In the Marine Corp they play for keeps.
The citizens of North Carolina are probably more than a notch
ahead of many states, as the military tradition is part of nearly
1/3 of the families who reside here. If fact, the Mooresville region
of west-central North Carolina is among the highest per-capita
number of military families in the nation; they can recognize a hero
when they see one.
On February 19 Garrett's life and the
lives of the Carnes family would be changed forever, when an IED
(Improvised Explosive Device) went off, nearly killing the young
Marine. As we have seen through wars, since World War II,
battlefield Corpsmen (Medics), are so well trained, they seem to
possess the Hand of God in administering to the wounded. Evacuation
from the firing line to surgeons waiting to apply the most advances
medical procedures have effectively enabled combatants to survive
some of the most devastating wounds even seen. Many who have never
seen the horrors of war may not understand battlefield trauma, but
such miracles are happening every day.
For those who are
risking their lives waging battle against the cowardly terrorists
who seldom distinguish between innocent civilians and soldier, the
Corpsmen, doctors and nurses provide an element of comfort that
those who have fought in other wars could never have imagined. Some
will always view it negatively...that returning home less than whole
is a cruel and punishing way to reward those who fought valiantly
for a cause from which many have grown weary. But for those of us
who believe in a higher being, the challenges to those who have
faced such a situation and the families that become the support
mechanism, perhaps there is some purpose to become an inspiration to
others, or maybe it is just the hand of fate. Whatever your point of
view, it is now the nation's responsibility provide all that is
necessary to help the wounded like Garrett to return to as normal of
a civilian life as possible.
“The willingness with which our
young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how
justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive
veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation.”
George Washington
The people of west-central North Carolina
understand this. We have had our fair share of wounded as well as
our fair share of those who have given all. With Ft. Bragg down in
Fayetteville being just a sort 2-1/2 drive down the highway, we have
seen our youth pay the price for what politicians believe is
important, even though most of us cannot understand how a war is
allowed to go on for eleven years, and we ask ourselves, “Where are
the REAL leaders?”
As the roar of motorcycles echoed among
the trees that line I-77 coming down from the Virginia state line,
every overpass was lined with North Carolinians, waving flags and
saying prayers that the rehabilitation and recovery of Garrett, the
well-being of the Carnes family, and that the ultimate victory over
terrorism will soon be seen. Many Northbound cars heading up I-77
toward the Virginia state line pulled to the side of the highway to
pay tribute to our hometown hero.
Photo courtesy of the
Charlotte
Observer |
|
The Patriot Guard (left) pulled into rest stop 42 just outside the
Mooresville turnoff for one final “pit stop” and was greeted by many
more that joined the final leg of “the ride” into town. Helicopters
circled overhead as Garrett left the confines of the motorcade and
joined his father on the back of his motorcycle, donned his helmet,
and slipped into the rear echelon of the parade of motorcycles and
cars which would mark the last few miles of the long trip home from
Walter Reed hospital.
We were in a crowd positioned in front
of Richard's Coffee Shop, “The Most Patriotic Coffee Shop in
America” and home to our Welcome Home Living Military Museum, just
down the street from the Charles Mack Citizen Center on North Main
Street where Mayor Miles Atkins and a handful of local political
leaders were on hand to thank Lance Corporal Carnes for his service,
the Carnes family for its sacrifice, and to give Garrett a key to
the city. From Mooresville to Afghanistan, to the U.S military
hospital in Germany; to Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda,
Maryland, and now back to Mooresville, the journey home has been
completed.
The journey has been completed, but the story of
Garrett's new life is just beginning. His life was miraculously
spared for a call to duty for what only God knows at this point.
From a world of peace to one turned upside down, his new mission
will begin with a challenging rehabilitation that will make boot
camp seem like a Boy Scout Jamboree, but the Marine Corp builds MEN,
and Garrett will rise to the occasion. At the age of 22, his life
will become a model to many of those who follow.
As we
veterans have witnessed from those who have receive medals of valor,
the selflessness of those who are recognized, lives on. What they
did was simply “just part of the job”, nothing special, nothing
heroic. Garrett |
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joined that elite corps of warriors who know that the honors
received are done so for all of those who are part of the Team. They
took the wound, they bared the task completely disregarding their
own safety so that their brothers in arms would live to fight
another day. That was evident to the crowd in which there wasn't a
dry eye, when Garrett had his moment with the microphone... |
He admitted he is a person short on words and was having a hard
time understanding why so many would come out to honor him. While he
was deeply gratified, he called his grandfather to come through the
crowd so that he could be recognized for his service in Vietnam as a
Navy Corpsmen. We wanted to hear more, but true to his word, he was
short and to the point. The mark of a true hero is not in words, but
are spoken far more eloquently in his actions.
Though Iredell
County is small in population, it poured out its soul to show it is
big in heart and spirit. Thousands showed up to pay tribute and many
brought friends and family to the ceremony from South Carolina,
Virginia, and all other the state. It will be a day of remembrance
for the entire community. God bless you Garrett.
By Ed Mattson
Copyright 20112
Reprinted from Veterans Today
About Author: Following his service in the Marine Corps Ed Mattson built a diverse career in business in both sales and marketing and management. He is a published author and medical research specialist. He is currently Development Director of the National Guard Bureau of International Affairs-State Partnership Program, Fundraising Coordinator for the Warrior2Citizen Project, and Managing Partner of Center-Point Consultants in North Carolina. Mr. Mattson is a noted speaker and has addressed more than 3000 audiences in 42 states and 5 foreign countries. He has been awarded the Order of the Sword by American Cancer Society, is a Rotarian Paul Harris Fellow and appeared on more than 15 radio and television talk-shows.
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