In the Heart of a Warrior:

“Faith – Anchors the Soul”

When I first received orders to 1st Marine Division I was concerned. How do you touch the heart of a warrior? Praying for guidance – God answered, “Sand” – not just any sand, but sand from Guadalcanal, Peleliu, Iwo Jima,... I gathered sand from retired Marines through reunion web sites. In the woodshop I crafted a small box that held glass vials, each to contain sand from some of the most famous battles ever fought. Holding sand from these legendary campaigns evoked incredibly deep emotions.

Reporting to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, I asked God for another tangible way to strengthen the faith of my Marines. I will never forget the day when we assembled a fourteen-foot wooden cross, constructed from telephone poles. Gathering seven volunteers we each consumed several grains of sand from Guadalcanal. Reflecting upon the struggles of those warriors and the price each paid – we began our spiritual trek up San Onofre mountain, one of the highest points on Camp Pendleton.

Reaching the top moments before colors and hailing the call, we stood the cross upright to honor Marines. Bruised and shaken by our journey - we felt a deep sense of accomplishment. From the top we could see Camp Horno and in the opposite direction the Pacific Ocean.

During a pre-deployment mess night all the officers and NCO’s stood silently atop San Onofre mountain. Our Regimental Commander, Col Toolan christened the 1st Marine Regiment marker engraved in granite with sand from Guadalcanal. We all knew not everyone would return from this deployment.

“Hope – Produces Endurance”

We had just secured an apartment complex outside the city of Fallujah. My RP and I remained outside the apartment compound hunkered down with Weapons Company. When the cry went out, “Corpsmen Up!” – we directed the wounded to the Battalion Aid Station within the apartment building.

During triage I came face to face with LCPL Zurheide. The words I heard next cut deep, “he’s gone - get him out of here.” We moved him to the side and the senior corpsmen verified his injuries, expectant. This was my first mass causality, but not the last.

Several days later in the same courtyard where Marines were killed a baptism was held. We transported 14, 5-gallon jugs of water past enemy lines into the courtyard. In a makeshift baptismal font made from MRE and ammunition boxes wrapped with 550-cord, four Marines were baptized.

Faith triumphed over fear. Through baptism new life presented itself in a public profession of faith. Four hardened Marines baptized by fire, now stripped to their skivvies and dedicated their lives to Christ.

I couldn’t help but remember that trek up the Mountain before deploying. LCPL Zurheide was one of the initial seven Marines who carried the cross up the hill. His son was born just four days after his death. The place where he was mortally wounded – had become a source of Hope, an anchor in the storm for the Marines baptized that day.

During memorial moments like these we remembered our fellow Marines – by taking grains of sand and placing them in an empty vial next to the sand from Guadalcanal, Peleliu, and Iwo Jima. Some three hundred and fifty Marines filled that vial in remembrance of our 19 KIA’s. It represented our pain, sadness and loss.

During our Warrior Transition de-briefings this small wooden box containing sand was passed from Marine to Marine as stories of trials and testing were shared. We brought the sand home and poured it and our burdens out at the foot of the cross, reflecting upon the honor we held for our fallen comrades.

“Love – Reunites”

We affixed a copper plaque containing the 19 names of our KIA’s to the cross. This cross is home to many stories – the one that touches me most is the ceremony with Robert Paul Zurheide III. His mom asked me to perform his baby dedication.

On February 5th 2005 we carried little Robert along the same path his father had walked a year earlier. At the top we honored the earthly father he never knew and emphasized the love of his Heavenly Father’s sacrifice that would one day reunite us all.

As Robert touched his father’s name, and looked at me with his father’s eyes, words can not articulate my emotions. The night Robert Jr. died—the last thing I saw was his eyes.

I can not begin to describe what it’s been like serving alongside the warrior’s of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. I praise God for using me in the hearts and lives of these Warriors. For allowing me to wear the Marine Corps uniform and carry “HIS” cross on my collar. It has changed me forever.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” - Matthew 16:24-25

Contact us for more info