On January 24th 2009 a Marine humvee was struck by an IED in Afghanistan’s Farah Province.
There were three Marines from Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion 8th Marines riding inside. The driver, L/Cpl Julian Brennan, 25 of Brooklyn New York, was killed. Cpl. Kenneth Bowen of Saline Michigan who was riding in the shotgun seat, suffered second and third degree burns on 44% of his body and a shattered ankle. In the gunners position, L/Cpl. Kevin Preach of Bridgewater Massachusetts, lost both of his legs, his left hand, and was severely burned over 45% of his body. L/Cpl Preach and Cpl. Bowen were both evacuated to Germany, and eventually to Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas.
L/Cpl. Brennan was buried February 2nd in Arlington.
He was from an anti-war family, but had begun to feel a call to serve after his grandfathers funeral in 2005. Lt. Col. James C. Brennan was a Marine during WWII and had won the Navy Cross on Iwo Jima. Out of his company of 330 men, 28 survived. At his funeral Julian had kissed his grandfathers coffin. He joined the Corps two years later. L/Cpl. Brennan’s funeral made history for the Corps.
He was the first junior enlisted Marine to be buried at Arlington with full military honors. The honors of an an escort platoon, drummers from “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band, a casket team, a firing party and a bugler were until recently reserved only for officers, Medal of Honor recipients, and senior enlisted.
Cpl. Bowen has been in a drug induced coma since his arrival at Brooke. The doctors recently allowed him to regain consciousness long enough to see his mother and say “Oh Mom, this is bad isn’t it?”
L/Cpl. Preach’s mother said that “He’s lost his legs. He’s lost his hand. He’s seriously burned. He’s very burned. It’s not even day-to-day, it’s really hour to hour.”
While L/Cpl. Preach, who always wanted to be a Marine, fought for his life, his younger brother Daniel followed in his footsteps, pushing through the Crucible with the 3rd Recruit Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island South Carolina. Despite his brothers severe condition, Recruit Preach refused to be released from boot camp, and instead continued through the torments of the Marine Corps rite of passage.
Lance Corporal Kevin T. Preach, USMC, died of his wounds on Saturday February 7th at 2315 Eastern Standard Time. He was 21.
While it may be to late for prayers for L/Cpl. Preach, Corporal Kenneth Bowen still clings to life at Brooke. Cards may be sent to Brooke Army Medical Center, Marine PATT -Cpl. Kenneth Bowen, 3851 Roger Brooke Dr. Ft. Sam Houston, TX 78234.
As always, donations can be made to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund (IMSFF), 825 College Blvd, Suite 102, PMB 609, Oceanside CA, 92507, or call their offices in Quantico at 703-640-0181 if you have any questions about donating in honor or memory of a particular Marine.
The war is not over, our troops are still fighting, bleeding and dying. Keep them and their families in your prayers.
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