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A Marine scans the horizon. The heads-up display in his B-24
exoskeleton helmet reveals a hot spot in its infra-red readout. Is
that an enemy? Servos kick in and whir as he takes two steps forward
for a better look. Confirmed hostile. The information beams back to
superiors as the B-24's shoulder launched high explosive grenade
launcher locks on target. The Marine prepares to fire.
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September 29, 2016 - Micah Daily, a 9-year-old boy at the time, drew
a photo of a robot and wrote a note addressed to Marine Corps
Recruiting Command aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA in 2015.
Capt. David P. Foley wrote and hand-delivered a note to Micah to
attend the Modern Day Marine Military Exposition (MDMME) later that
year, but could not because his grandmother became deathly ill.
Foley extended the invitation to the next year, where Micah, his
grandmother and his father attended the 2016 MDMME. Foley is the
adjutant officer for MCRC. (Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Shaehmus Sawyer)
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One 10-year-old boy aspires to build the concepts of the
future like this, but could not wait to tell the military
his plans. Micah Daily wrote a letter to Marine Corps
Recruiting Command, aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.,
that ended with, “if you show me the place ware you make all
the Robots and stuff I will tell you how to build it.”
The letter included a drawing of his ‘B-24' one-manned
robot equipped with mini-guns, control systems and a seat
for a Marine. The letter was duplicated and sent to multiple
branches of the military, but only the Marines replied. One
reached MCRC, where Capt. David P. Foley, the adjutant
officer of MCRC, saw it.
“I read it and realized that
Micah was from a neighboring town very close to where I grew
up.” said Foley. “I took it to my boss and asked him if I
could respond to it myself. I gave them a call letting them
know I received the letter.”
In April of 2015, Micah
Daily, the young boy who sent the letter, and his family
came home from vacation to a voicemail from Foley.
“I
couldn't believe it!” said Heidi Redd, Micah's grandmother.
“We told Micah not to expect anything to avoid
disappointment, but we never expected this.”
Foley
went on leave for Independence Day, but had another plan
while on vacation. On July 2, 2015, Foley grabbed the letter
he wrote, put on his Dress Blue “D” uniform and
hand-delivered an invitation to Micah for the Modern Day
Marine Military Exposition (MDMME) held aboard MCB Quantico.
“When I got that letter, it felt like a roller coaster,”
said Micah. “I don't even know how to explain it. It just
felt so weird—“
“Like butterflies,” his father,
Justin Daily, said with a glowing smile.
Unfortunately, his grandmother developed a medical
condition, preventing them from attending the event Foley
invited them to, and so he extended the invitation to the
next year. Although she is still suffering from her medical
condition, it did not stop her, Micah and his father from
attending the event this year.
The three drove more
than 400 miles from Lancaster, Ohio to Quantico, Va., Sept.
26, 2016. Foley arranged for the family to receive a tour of
the Pentagon, and they also visited the National Museum of
American History and other historical places, Sept. 27.
“Captain Foley really went above and beyond for Micah,”
said Heidi Redd. “Since we received his voicemail to today,
we never thought this would have happened with the letter
Micah sent.”
September 28, Micah saw the MDMME. He
held weapons, shot at a simulated marksmanship booth,
climbed into the driver seat of military vehicles, learned
about amphibious assault craft on display, played with many
remote-controlled robotics and more. He experienced a lot of
things many kids do not have the opportunity to, but he
never failed to thank the Marines or contractors who took
the time to show him the contraptions.
“I think he
really enjoyed it,” said Foley. “The intent was to give him
the shock and awe effect of the Marine Corps. You could see
it on his face, he was excited and thrilled to be here the
entire time. Part of why I did this was the connection to my
hometown, and I thought of how amazing it would have been if
someone had done this for me as a kid.”
After having
some chow, Micah, his family and Foley visited MCRC and met
Foley's team. He learned a little about the mission of MCRC
and the roles Marines play in it.
“Ever since I could
walk, talk or do any of that stuff, I wanted to be a part of
the military,” said Micah. “I really want to be a Marine
now.”
The last trip of the day was the National
Museum of the United States Marine Corps in Triangle, Va.
There, Micah was able to read the plaques and learn all he
could about the history and traditions of the Marine Corps,
and related what he learned in the museum to his experiences
during the MDMME.
“I still can't believe how much
Capt. Foley has done for Micah,” said Redd. “This really was
a dream come true for him. The fact that the Marine Corps
was the only branch to respond to us meant a lot, but to
give us a tour of the Pentagon, get us into the Modern Day
Marine Expo, get us on base to meet his team... it is was just
above and beyond.”
Micah and his family left MCB
Quantico with a once-in-a-lifetime experience, thanks to his
letter and Foley—the Marine who made one boy's dream a
reality.
“When you complete a task on your daily list
of things to do, you get a sense of fulfillment, but it goes
away quickly,” said Foley. “Something like this brings a
deep and profound sense of fulfillment because I know I did
something that possibly impacted someone's life. It's still
sinking in. It's definitely something that is going to stick
with me for a very long time.”
By U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Shaehmus Sawyer
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
The U.S. Marines
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