A Sad Day in Pensacola

[ekpolk]

Nineteen years ago, I was a young Marine Lieutenant. I was on leave, and my then-new bride and I were at her home enjoying some time off. While we were there, her childhood friend Angela, who grew up in the house across the street, prematurely gave birth to her one and only son, Evan. I can remember his little premature ears, still all rolled up and mis-shapen. A really cute kid.

Earlier today, the doctors disconnected Evan from life support, and he went Home for the last time.

A week ago, he was driving home late at night, and 3/4 of a mile from his house, it appears he fell asleep at the wheel of his pickup -- but no one will ever know for sure. No alcohol involved, but he was not wearing his seatbelt, and he was thrown forward and ejected, crushing the front of his head.

He was a good, nice young man who had overcome a tough start in life, and had everything to live for. What a needless and tragic loss.

Wear your belts folks -- if he had, this would be a non-story and I wouldn't be planning to attend what will be a gruesome funeral.

 

[ScottB]

Sadly, your thread reminds me of my brother, also a Marine.
He was in Quantico, VA going between camps when the guy driving lost control of their truck and went into the trees, crashing and burning in the woods.
My brother, with broken neck, was technically dead when the second truck pulled behind and his buddy performed CPR on him.
The Marine next to him was dead, three others like him were critical, and flown to Bethesda Naval Hosp.
Of course, none of them had seatbelts sitting in the back of the canvas-back truck, which is why they got so messed up.

While in BNH, I was on the Neuro-Surgery ward and saw all the young people that were literally walking zombies that had wrecked in cars with no seatbelts, or on motorcycles with no helmets.

I will never forget that time - 1984 - watching the Olympics and being in this surreal nightmare.

I'm sad for your friends - I remember that time like it was yesterday.

My brother survived - but only after years of painful surgeries and losing his spot as a fighter pilot.

G o d speed, and be careful all.

Scott

 

[Korean_redneck]

My condolences. That's aweful

 

[TheTanSedan]

My wife lost her brother to a car wreck in 1967. It still echoes in our lives. A terrible sadness for my father-in-law for more than 35-years.

Read recently that 55% of auto fatalities are still linked to, unbelievably, not wearing seatbelts.

At Easter my folks were trying to remember the first car they had which was OEM with seatbelts. The '59 Dodge had them (optional, we think) but before that they were an aftermarket item. My dad remembers moving them to a new '54 Ford from a well-worn '49 Ford.

My son is at TBS-Quantico, and I've spoken with him about being off-duty and trying to "make time" on the road. A falsehood (outside of keeping the left door shut).

A friend "lost" his son to a bad auto wreck (too small a car), and he is permanently institutionalized.

It is such a waste.

 

[ekpolk]

TTS:

Your son is hoeing a tough row out there. My hat's off to him, though at the moment, I'm sure he would consider the idea of a Colonel saluting him to be pretty alien. I was just out at Camp Barrett a couple months ago while sitting on a promotion board at Quantico. Seemed like just yesterday. . .

You are wise to counsel your son this way. Just in the Marines, we lose an astonishing number in senseless accidents. As a senior leader, it gets really depressing doing all you can for your youngsters, and these things keep on happening.

As a kid, I remember my Dad getting belts put in the back of our 63 Studebaker. One was plain and the other, shiny anodized blue, and had come from a Rambler. My shrewd Dad got my little sister and I fighting over who got the "Rambler belt". I've been wearing since, and never looked back.

quote:

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It is such a waste.

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You get the understatement of the year award. . .

Thanks to all for your kind words and thoughts.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

A prayer for this young man's family. No words can express my condolences.

 

[Bio-T]

A prayer from our family also to the young man's family. Hard to type right now.