THE GLOBE, CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VA.
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
7A
Wounded Marine’s success through transition Marine comes home to hurricane ravaged city AQUITA BROWN
Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment
There is nothing better than waking up on a Saturday morning and spending the entire day outdoors. For Marine veteran Lance Cpl. Chase Savage it is the best prescription for healing. Savage spends his weekends participating in various hunting and fishing outings with his fellow wounded, ill and injured Marines through the Wounded Warrior Regiment’s outdoor recreation program. Savage always enjoyed hunting and fishing since growing up in rural Mississippi. He joined the Marine Corps in 2003 as a rifleman in the infantry. His main reason for joining was due to the tragic events of 9/11. “I was young,” said Savage. “I had just graduated, and I felt obligated to be a part of the things going on with our country.” Nov. 11, 2004, Savage, was injured while on patrol with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Haswa, Iraq. Savage was operating a machine gun turret, when his vehicle suddenly struck an improvised explosive device. “I was conscious the entire time,” said Savage. “I remember feeling the heat wave from the blast and initially thinking we had been hit by a rocketpropelled grenade. I did not realize I was hurt until I went to turn the turret. My arm did not work.” Savage was immediately evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, and then to Walter Reed Army Medical Center (now Walter Reed National Military Medical Center) where he first learned the extent of his injuries. He had sustained a compound fracture to his right arm, shrapnel wounds to his right forearm and a contusion to his sternum. Savage eventually lost his right arm above the elbow, due to these wounds. Savage’s struggles throughout his recovery process were minimized thanks to the support of his loving family and another wounded warrior. “Retired Marine Malcolm “Mac” Garner, who lost his arm in Vietnam and who was also a game warden on base, was influential in assisting me with getting my degree in wildlife,” said Savage. “To see someone with a similar injury successful and giving back was amazing.” After he transitioned from active duty in 2005, Savage moved back home. He enrolled in college at Mississippi State University and completed his Bachelors of Science in wildlife management in 2010. He currently works for the Unit-
AT SEA, USS WASP
ed States Fish and Wildlife Service at the Baltimore Washington International Airport as a wildlife inspector. “Chase spends a lot of time mentoring other wounded, ill and injured Marines and is a true inspiration to many others, and shows it is not the disability but the ability to do whatever he desires,” said Bob Critcher, the Wounded Warrior Regiment’s outdoor recreation coordinator. “The Regiment encourages our Marines to participate in sporting events and outdoor recreation activities to build their self confidence and ultimately assists with a successful transition such as Chase’s.” Examples of success stories such as Chase’s are common, and will be highlighted throughout the year and during Warrior Care Month in November. Warrior Care Month is a Department of Defense-wide effort to celebrate the accomplishments of our wounded, ill and injured Marines, and increase awareness throughout the military of wounded warrior support programs and commands. The theme for this year is “Success Through Transition - Education, Employment & Entrepreneurship.” Savage is being highlighted not only for the success in his career but for mentoring other Marines. Savage was inspired to introduce newly injured Marines to various outdoor programs and events. “I see myself as one of these guys. I was in their place years ago. This is one way I can give back,” said Savage. “Being outdoors helped me heal a lot quicker. Therapy in a hospital setting is obviously very important for our returning wounded warriors, but at the same time a weekend spent outdoors can replace weeks of traditional therapy in the overall healing process. It really helped me get back to a life of normalcy.” Established in 2007, the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment was created to provide and facilitate nonmedical care to combat and non-combat wounded, ill and injured Marines and sailors attached to or in direct support of Marine units and their family members in order to assist them as they return to duty or transition to civilian life. The Regimental Headquarters element, located in Quantico, Va., commands the operations of two Wounded Warrior Battalions located at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Camp Lejeune, N.C., and multiple detachments in locations around the globe. For more information about the Wounded Warrior Regiment visit www. woundedwarriorregiment.org or call the Sgt. Merlin German with the Wounded Warrior Call Center at 877-487-6299.
CPL. CHRIS STONE
26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
Coming to the fleet is a unique experience for every Marine. Some spend years sitting on a base, some deploy immediately, some get exactly where they are hoping for, and some have to wait a little longer. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s a rougher time. But rarely, they’re deployed within two weeks of arriving at their unit to assist disaster recovery operations for their own homes after a hurricane tears through the area, doing untold damage. 2nd Lt. Gerard Farao is one such example of the latter category. Assistant public affairs officer with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Farao arrived at the unit less than two weeks before packing all of his gear and flying with elements of the unit to assist in relief operations in the vicinity of New York City in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy’s destructive course through the area. “I grew up right across the river from New York City,” said Farao. “I was able to see the actual Ground Zero from my English classroom window.” Born and raised in New Jersey, he lived his entire life, never moving from the area before entering the Marine Corps. A finance major at Rutgers Business School, Farao was selected for Officer Candidate School. Selected as a public affairs officer by the Marine Corps, Farao is a graduate of the Defense Information School. Following his graduation, he arrived the 26th MEU, stationed out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. Within days, he was in the field as the MEU continued its predeployment training program. As the storm swung wide of North Carolina and started bearing in on the northeast, he started to become concerned for his family and home. “Once it got north, I was calling, asking if everyone was alright, if there was electricity,” said Farao. “In a weird way, I kind of wished I was home to experience it, just because it’s where I’ve been all my life.” When orders came down from II Marine Expeditionary Force for the 26th MEU to support disaster relief operations, Farao and other MEU Marines boarded MV22B Osprey tiltrotors, flying north to embark aboard USS Wasp. USS Wasp is an amphibious assault carrier serving as the 26th MEU’s base of operations off the coast of New York and New Jersey, an ideal staging point for the aviation and logistics assets, and a perfect vessel for situating the hundreds of Marines supporting operations. “Walking through some of these areas reminds me of my neighborhood a little bit, so it hits close to home. When you hear the stories of the people stuck and drowning in their homes and cars, it’s pretty grim,” said Farao. Farao is currently assisting clean-up operations on Staten Island with the 26th MEU. The 26th MEU is able to provide generators, fuel, clean water and helicopter lift capabilities to aid in disaster relief efforts. The 26th MEU is currently conducting pre-deployment training, preparing for their departure in 2013. As an expeditionary force operating from the sea the MEU is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force capable of conducting amphibious operations, crisis response and limited contingency operations.
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