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Doc Kirby
By Slab
Some of you may remember Dustin Kirby, a corpsman with 2d Battalion 8th Marine Regiment who was the subject of a New York Times article and my entry, Corpsman Up! Pt II. The following comment was left this morning:
Doc Kirby was severly wounded by a sniper on Christmas. Please pray for Dustin.
Please keep Dustin in your thoughts and prayers.
Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery, Doc.
Update: The New York Times has another article about Dustin. He is alive and should be arriving in Bethesda, Maryland sometime soon to continue his recovery.
The bullet struck the left side of his face while he was on the roof of Outpost Omar, the position his unit occupies in Karma, a city near Falluja in Anbar Province.His jaw and upper palate were damaged extensively, but after several operations he was conscious and on a ventilator in a military hospital in Germany, his battalion commander, Lt. Col. Kenneth M. DeTreux, said by telephone.
....
He was expected to arrive today at Bethesda Naval Medical Center in Maryland, where his wife, Lauren Kirby, and his parents, Gail and Jack Kirby, planned to meet him.
LtCol Detreux's account of Doc Kirby's conduct is no surprise.
Colonel DeTreux said Petty Officer Kirby began writing within minutes of being shot, when he jotted a note to his platoon before being evacuated by helicopter.In the first note he apologized to the company’s senior enlisted man for being wounded, the colonel said. He then refused a stretcher and insisted on walking to the helicopter.
“He’s tough,” Colonel DeTreux said. “He showed his character, walking onto the aircraft himself.”
Semper Fidelis, Doc.
Update #2:The Times article mentioned that National Envelope Corporation, where Dustin's father works, is collecting donations to help Dustin's family. I left a message for Kathleen Childs, the executive assistant who is helping to manage the donations. When I get more information, I'll make a separate entry. Stay tuned.
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Comments
Leta,
The family contacted me through this blog when I first wrote about Dustin, so hopefully they will pass on your message. I am going to update the entry in a minute with quote from a NY Times article.
Thanks for the tip on Dustin.
Hopefully one of our friend's from Soldier's Angels (Laurie, Mary Ann?) will get to him.
Dustin's story really unmasks the true hideousness of CNN's decision to run the insurgent sniper video.
and as a side note, good on the Times for profiling Doc Kirby.
Lightning,
Thanks for the update. If you don't get an address in the next few days perhaps you could email me yours and I could send a donation for the family via you if you don't mind. I'm going to be out of town for a couple of weeks on a work project and during part of the time will have no access to email/web/cell phone.
Another amazing Warrior. Can't tell you how thankful I am to hear he is doing well. Thanks for letting us know and keeping us updated.
John,
Soldiers' Angels is on this. We're going to give him a laptop without the voice software. Obviously, he can't talk, but we're thinking that using the laptop will be easier than hand-writing notes to communicate. It'll also help him stay in touch with "his Marines," since I'm sure that as a corpsman he will be worrying about them. ;)
FbL, I can't thank you guys enough.
ALCON, address for the Dustin E. Kirby Medical Fund is posted here.
Lightning, I was in a hurry last night and didn't realize you had contact with the family. We hope to have someone going to Bethesda today to try to find him, but don't have a direct connection yet. Would you please forward his family my email address in case we can't make contact today?
Local business men and women are setting up account at Georgia Heritage Bank in the Dallas,Ga. This is a local bank in Dustin home County. These funds will be given to the family to help with expenses incurred by the family. The parents and wife will have to travel long distance to visit Dustin in the Hospital. The goverment pays very little to these cost. We in Paulding CO. are so proud of Dustin.
I've been praying for Dustin for weeks...he saved Colin (my cousin's son) Smith. His training, courage to save Colin while the threat of the sniper existed, and his faith all are blessings that we give thanks for.
Quick question: What is "Soldier's Angels?" My cousin is Colin Smith (the marine who Dustin saved his life in the NY times article). Colin is currently recovering and cannot speak yet. Something to help him communicate may also be appreciated by his family.
May God bless these young men and women fighting in such horrible circumstances. God's hand has been seen so completely in the NY times front page article containing so many references to these young men's faith, and through the circumstances of all of this.
God bless!
I stumbled on this site from a Google search for "Karma Iraq". Ironically, my son, HM Kyle Smith is headed to Karma for his 3rd tour in Iraq with the 3rd Division 3rd Marines in July. He too is a Navy Corpsman and will be serving in a ground company. I am touched by the stories of Dustin Kirby and am curious what the latest is. I see the last post was January, today is June 13. Are donations still be taken by his family and if so is there an internet contact to make a donation?
God speed to all who serve!
Brian,
I know alot of time has past since your post on June 13 and your son has already deployed. I have not checked this site in sometime as we have been dealing with alot. I am sorry that things are still so that more young men and women are still making the sacrifices that they are, but continue to be proud of their strength and commitment. My son, Dustin, is healing. Healing both physically and spiritually. I have the honor and the privelege to watch my son deal what I hope is his biggest trial with grace, honor and dignity. He has continued to make his father and I so very proud every minute. I thank you and everyone that has shown concern for your prayer and support. I continue to pray for our troops and for wisdom for our leaders. My email address is gkirby42@yahoo.com if you would like to contact me for more updates.
I struggle for the words to say to to let you know that I am thinking of you and your son during this time.
God be with you,
Gail Kirby
Proud Navy Mom
I am a HT installer in Jacksonville, NC. I have had the true honor of meeting Kirby and Lauren. Doc, you are one of my heroes. I only have 3. Semper Fi.
D.J.
GSI HT Installs
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I am saddened to read this news. I will prayer for Doc Kirby. Please keep us posted on his progress in recovering from his wounds. And, if you have a way to send him a message please let him know how much he is appreciated. My nephew is deployed as a Corpsman with the 2/8 right now. I think of them and pray for them EVERY day. They have had, as many others, a VERY exhausting and busy deployment but have done amazing work.