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Blackfive: Donald R. McGlothlin |
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Friday, 27 November 2009 |
Thanks to Matt's post about Corporal Javier Perez, and the magic of the Google machine, I learned a bit more about one of the Marines who died that day, and who Corporal Perez was trying to reach when he was injured. His name is Donald R. McGlothlin and he had given up a scholarship to study Chemistry at Stanford in order to serve. You can find more about him here. And here's the transcript of a Wolf Blitzer program, starting with a few remarks by President Bush back in 2005 before moving onto an interview of McGlothlin's parents, that I'm putting up because I want to make sure it doesn't get lost. The last comment by Mr. McGlothlin quite touching and apropos: GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: : One of these men was a marine lieutenant named Ryan McGlothlin from Lebanon, Virginia. Ryan was a bright young man who had everything going for him. And he always wanted to serve our nation. He was a valedictorian of his high school class. He graduated from William and Mary with near perfect grade averages. And he was on a full scholarship at Stanford where he was working toward a doctorate in chemistry. Two years after the attack on September 11, the young man had the world at his feet came home from Stanford for a visit. He told his dad, I just don't feel like I'm doing something that matters. I want to serve my country. I want to protect our land from terrorists so I joined the marines. When his father asked him if there's some other way to serve, Ryan replied that he felt a special obligation to step up because he had been given so much. Ryan didn't support me in the last election. But he supported our mission in Iraq. And he supported his fellow marines. Ryan was killed last month fighting terrorists in Iraq's Syrian border. In his pocket was a poem that Ryan read at his high school graduation. It represented the spirit of this fine marine. The poem was called "Don't Quit." (END VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER: Donald McGlothlin is Ryan's father, Ruth McGlothlin is Ryan's mother. They are joining us now from Bristol, Virginia. Our deepest condolences to both of you on the tragic loss of your son. Don, let me start with you. Did you know the president was going to single him out today? DONALD MCGLOTHLIN, RYAN'S FATHER: Yes, sir. We found out on Monday that his speech writers were considering using Ryan's story, and they first contacted Ruth, Ryan's mother, and then she and I discussed it. But we were fully apprised of not only the fact the president wished toread
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