Fallen Hero: Sgt. Merlin German, USMC

Sgt. Merlin German was known as the 'Miracle Marine'.

On Feb 22, 2005, the 18 year-old was a turret gunner when his Humvee rolled over an IED in Anbar Province.

Merlin was blown out of the vehicle.

He was on fire.

Over 97% of his body was burned; only the top of his head and the soles of feet were not burned.

At Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, doctors gave Merlin a 0-3% chance of living. But guess what. Merlin fought on for more than three years, undergoing some 120 surgical procedures in that time.

At the burn unit in Brooke Army Medical Center, Merlin designed his own t-shirt:

The front: “Got 3% chance of surviving, what ya gonna do?”

The back: “A) Fight Through, b) Stay Strong, c) Overcome Because I Am a Warrior, or d) All of the Above!”

D is circled.

And he started a charity, Merlin's Miracles to aid child burn victims.

Merlin German died unexpectedly on April 11, after a skin graft, a relatively minor surgery.

Requiescat In Pace, Marine