Semper fi Cody Green

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

I checked this on Snopes to make sure it wasn't some fabricated hoax and was delighted to find out that it is in fact a true story.


No matter your politics, this is a story that invokes inspiration.

Every now and then, in the middle of the constant barrage of crap that’s just pissing us all off these days, we come across a story, a feat, an event that just makes us stop in our tracks. This was one for me.


Cody Green was a 12-year kid in Indiana who was diagnosed with leukemia at 22 months old. He loved the Marines, and his parents said he drew strength and courage from the Marine Corps. as he bravely fought the battle into remission three times. Although he was cancer-free at the time, the chemotherapy had lowered his immune system and he developed a fungus infection that attacked his brain. Two weeks ago, as he struggled to fend off that infection in the hospital, the Marines wanted to show how much they respected his will to live, his strength, honor and courage. They presented Cody with Marine navigator wings and named him an honorary member of the United States Marine Corps. For one Marine, that wasn’t enough ... so that night, before Cody Green passed away, he took it upon himself to stand guard at Cody’s hospital door all night long, 8 hours straight.

Marine Opens Up About Cody Green - YouTube

 

[SLM]

I remember reading about this a few months back, there may have even been a thread about it, but I don't recall seeing the video of him talking about that night and the funeral. He was very poignant and well spoken about it and it personifies, to me, why I really believe people put on a uniform in the service of others in the first place. Honor, integrity, compassion.

 

[Locutus]

I remember reading about this a few months back, there may have even been a thread about it, but I don't recall seeing the video of him talking about that night and the funeral. He was very poignant and well spoken about it and it personifies, to me, why I really believe people put on a uniform in the service of others in the first place. Honor, integrity, compassion.

Yep, and even as a nice story couldn't be left alone as just that.

http://forums.canadiancontent.net/news/106030-12-year-old-boy-made.html

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

Yep, and even as a nice story couldn't be left alone as just that.

http://forums.canadiancontent.net/news/106030-12-year-old-boy-made.html

Yeah I see that now. Having been out of the loop I guess I missed the story.

 

[SLM]

Yep, and even as a nice story couldn't be left alone as just that.

http://forums.canadiancontent.net/news/106030-12-year-old-boy-made.html

Oh yes, thought it was familiar. And it was too bad it couldn't have been left alone as just a nice story.

 

[The Old Medic]

The vast majority of those that choose to serve their country are bright, compassionate, caring people who serve with integrity and honor.

 

[shadowshiv]

Rest in peace, Cody. 12 years old...

 

[Goober]

Yeah I see that now. Having been out of the loop I guess I missed the story.

Easy enought to miss the story- I did as well. Thanks for posting it.

 

[CDNBear]

Yeah I see that now. Having been out of the loop I guess I missed the story.

None the less, it bears repeating.

 

[L Gilbert]

I'm glad Mark did repeat it, too. I missed the first instance.
Sympathies to Cody's family and friends.

 

[TenPenny]

While I feel sympathy for the kid and his family, I find things like this confusing.

Can we now assume all kids dying of cancer get the full treatment? Should we also make all dying kids President of the US?
Maybe Pope as well?

I think the whole 'give the kid something because he's dying' thing is misguided.

 

[gerryh]

I think the whole 'give the kid something because he's dying' thing is misguided.

Simple then, don't do it. No reason though that others can't.

 

[shadowshiv]

While I feel sympathy for the kid and his family, I find things like this confusing.

Can we now assume all kids dying of cancer get the full treatment? Should we also make all dying kids President of the US?
Maybe Pope as well?

I think the whole 'give the kid something because he's dying' thing is misguided.

The Marine did it because that is what he wanted to do. It wasn't like he was forced to do this or anything like that. And giving comfort (and perhaps even the tiniest bit of happiness) to the family like that can never be considered a bad thing.

 

[Locutus]

Yeah I see that now. Having been out of the loop I guess I missed the story.

It wasn't a nit on you Mark...but rather the chance to pick on the older post-troll.

 

[PoliticalNick]

I know I am probably being a bit too cynical here but the story reads to me more like a recruiting poster for the Marines than a human interest story. I have sympathy for the boy and his family but it comes across as being used to promote the USMC more than anything else IMHO.

 

[lone wolf]

Have you ever considered it represents respect and compassion - something the man in the uniform demonstrates well in his non-ordered deed?

 

[Goober]

I know I am probably being a bit too cynical here but the story reads to me more like a recruiting poster for the Marines than a human interest story. I have sympathy for the boy and his family but it comes across as being used to promote the USMC more than anything else IMHO.

And that is because on a known bias. If it was a Fire Fighter - would it be the same opinion- if it was a Police Officer would it be the same opinion.

 

[PoliticalNick]

And that is because on a known bias. If it was a Fire Fighter - would it be the same opinion- if it was a Police Officer would it be the same opinion.

I do have some bias against the USMC as most here know. I just don't think if it was a firefighter or cop there would be the gratuitous promotion of their organization in the story. I could be wrong but it's just an opinion and we all know about opinions.

 

[Goober]

I do have some bias against the USMC as most here know. I just don't think if it was a firefighter or cop there would be the gratuitous promotion of their organization in the story. I could be wrong but it's just an opinion and we all know about opinions.

I have seen the same with Fire Fighters, Police, sports teams and so on. The Soldier is no more nor less then any of the others.

 

[Locutus]

I know I am probably being a bit too cynical here but the story reads to me more like a recruiting poster for the Marines than a human interest story. I have sympathy for the boy and his family but it comes across as being used to promote the USMC more than anything else IMHO.

From the snopes entry on this story:


Origins: In April 2012, 12-year-old Cody Green, who had been battling leukemia since he was 22 months old, finally succumbed to a fungus that attacked his brain. According to news accounts, Cody had "always admired the strength and courage of the Marines," and so in his final days members of the Marines made him an honorary member of the United States Marine Corps: Members of the Marines decided to step in and do something.

"They decided Cody, with the strength and honor and courage he showed through the whole thing, he should be a Marine," said Cody's father David Snowberger.

Cody was given Marine navigator wings and was made an honorary member of the United States Marine Corps.
One Marine, Sergeant Mark Dolfini, went even further to honor Cody and, during the boy's final night, stood guard outside his hospital door all night long until Cody passed away: Sergeant Mark Dolfini heard of Cody Green's situation through his co-worker, and got in contact with Cody's parents. When the call came that Cody was passing, he took action.

"I got the call from [his father] David about 3:00 or 4:00 that afternoon," said Sgt. Dolfini. "He made it pretty clear to me that he was terminal and he wasn't going to last too much longer. I thought this is something that needs to happen right away."

"When I was driving down there, I had no idea what I was going to say, I had no idea what I was walking into, I didn't know if Cody was conscious," said Sgt. Dolfini. "I didn't know anything. I didn't know what I was walking into whatsoever."

When Sgt. Dolfini arrived, Cody was not awake.

"He was not conscious, " said Sgt. Dolfini. "I mean, if he was, he was not responsive but he was heading to a better place."

Sergeant Dolfini made the decision to stand guard outside Cody's door for as long as Cody was alive, which turned out to be eight straight hours. When a nurse told Sgt. Dolfini Cody's time was limited, Sgt. Dolfini made the choice to say goodbye.

He presented Cody with his navigator wings and let his family be with him in his final moments.

Sergeant Dolfini said leaving Cody and his family was not one of the hardest thing he's ever done. That moment came a week later when he attended Cody's funeral.

"I went and went in front of the casket and saluted Cody," said Sgt. Dolfini. "I turned and before I left I stopped and I turned right to Tracy, Cody's mother. We looked straight into each other's eyes and I saluted her and that was so hard. That was the most difficult thing I've encountered in awhile, but I know for that moment in time that we were locked in each other's gaze, keeping your bearing at that point is a tough thing to do."

"Marines don't do this sort of thing for acclaim," said Sgt. Dolfini. "That's not how we're wired. It's not why we join. We didn't join the Marine Corps. to be rich, we didn't join it for fame, you don't do it for that reason."

"If we all did just something like that once a day or just something small just think of what an incredible legacy that would leave for Cody," said Sgt. Dolfini.

Sergeant Dolfini said he has spoken with Cody's family several times since his funeral. He said they will be friends for life.