Here is a REAL American!

Greetings all, this is the Angry Webmaster. On this Memorial Day Weekend, where we remember and honor those who have fallen in the service of our country, we should remember others who have adopted the name, “American.”

In this case, I’m talking about a man who came to this country and witnessed the 9/11 attack first hand. He decided he had to do something. So he did. He joined the United States Marine Corps. I read about Sgt. Than Naing on Fox News and I am proud that this fine man decided to become both an American Citizen and a member of the Marine Corps.

Here’s the story from Fox News:

How 9/11 turned a new immigrant into a proud Marine

Before 9/11, Burma native Than Naing served fast food. Ever since the terror attacks, he’s served the United States.

Spurred into action in 2001 by the sight of the World Trade Center towers falling, Naing overcame daunting odds to become a Marine and has since been wounded fighting in both Iraq and Afghanistan and earned the elite fighting corps’ Marine of the Year award. He became a citizen in 2007, recently earned his college degree and is working toward his next one, all while proudly serving in the military and earning the admiration of his commanding officers.

As a nation we are all the stronger for fine men and women such as Sgt Naing.

Naing was 23 when his mother won a green card lottery. Although she and the rest of the family stayed behind, Naing sprang at the chance to start a new life in America.

Speaking no English and knowing no one, he moved to New York City in 2000. He was working at a Queens McDonald’s when Al Qaeda terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center, and he felt the pain and anger of his fellow New Yorkers. He asked neighbors how he could fight for America, and they told him to join the Marines.

“I went to a recruiting station a week later to join,” he said. “I saw what happened on the television and I felt terrible. I had to help. I had to do something.”

And all true Americans, such as you Sargent, thank you.

The Marines weren’t ready for their newest volunteer, because he wasn’t fluent in English. But the recruiter saw something in the earnest immigrant and agreed to help him learn the language skills he needed to pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. Working nightly for an entire year, they got Naing through the exam. By May 2004, Naing shipped out for boot camp at Parris Island in South Carolina.

That recruiter needs to be given a solid manly pat on the back for a job well done.

Before 9/11, Burma native Than Naing served fast food. Ever since the terror attacks, he’s served the United States.

Spurred into action in 2001 by the sight of the World Trade Center towers falling, Naing overcame daunting odds to become a Marine and has since been wounded fighting in both Iraq and Afghanistan and earned the elite fighting corps’ Marine of the Year award. He became a citizen in 2007, recently earned his college degree and is working toward his next one, all while proudly serving in the military and earning the admiration of his commanding officers.

“I’m a U.S. citizen and I felt like I needed to do something for this country,” the soft-spoken war veteran said. “That’s what being a citizen is all about.”

Naing was 23 when his mother won a green card lottery. Although she and the rest of the family stayed behind, Naing sprang at the chance to start a new life in America.

Speaking no English and knowing no one, he moved to New York City in 2000. He was working at a Queens McDonald’s when Al Qaeda terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center, and he felt the pain and anger of his fellow New Yorkers. He asked neighbors how he could fight for America, and they told him to join the Marines.

“I went to a recruiting station a week later to join,” he said. “I saw what happened on the television and I felt terrible. I had to help. I had to do something.”

The Marines weren’t ready for their newest volunteer, because he wasn’t fluent in English. But the recruiter saw something in the earnest immigrant and agreed to help him learn the language skills he needed to pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. Working nightly for an entire year, they got Naing through the exam. By May 2004, Naing shipped out for boot camp at Parris Island in South Carolina.

Pfc. Naing soon found himself in Iraq, patrolling the streets of Fallujah. It was there that he learned in 2006 that his mother had died. Believing he was needed on duty, he didn’t even tell his commanding officers.

“I felt bad, like I should go back to Burma to see my mom,” Naing remembered. “At the same time, I was in Fallujah in war with my friends, and I didn’t want to leave them behind.”

Sargent, you have done so much for us, I, for one, would have helped pay for your first class plane tickets. No one would have begrudged you a quick visit home. I have no doubts at all that your mother was a good woman and very proud of you and what you have become. I’m sorry that she didn’t come over to America as well.

Now, things get a little bit hairy for our fine American Marine. It seems he is a bit of a bullet magnet.

Several months later, during the height of the insurgency, Naing was shot in the left shoulder and pulled out of duty.

I’m sure he just told his commanding officer that it was a scratch and he would be fine with a band-aid and some Tylonol.

He was sent home to Camp Lejune, where he was assigned to the Injured Support Unit at the Wounded Warrior Barracks. While there, Naing mentored junior Marines and studied for his associate degree, and received the Marine of the Year award at Wounded Warrior Battalion-East at Camp Lejeune.

And here is another reason we have the finest military in the world.

“He leads by example and inspiration,” said Maj. Paul Greenberg, executive officer for Wounded Warrior Battalion-East. “The thing that most impresses me about Sgt. Naing are his genuine humility and his desire to pursue all the positive things that life has to offer.

After two years of rehab, Naing demanded to return to duty. He was sent back to fight with his old unit, now stationed in Afghanistan. In June 2010, he was checking the perimeter near a vehicle checkpoint in Marjah when a firefight broke out. Naing was directing his squad’s fire when he was shot in the chest by a Taliban fighter.

Dude, you have got to remember to duck!

Losing blood and drifting in and out of consciousness, Naing was flown out of the fighting zone and brought back after treatment to Camp Lejeune, where he has been rehabbing ever since.

“I thought I was going to die,” he said. “But we have training of how to act when you get shot. We’re not supposed to close our eyes, don’t give up, keep breathing normally. I focused on my training and it got me through.”

You are an American and like all true Americans, you don’t quit.

Naing has been rehabbing hard, pushing himself with weight training and swimming and is determined to serve another tour on the frontline. He is also working towards earning a bachelor’s degree, beginning with classes this summer.

Sgt. Naing has served our, (and his), nation honorably and well. If anyone has earned a break, it’s him. But no, he can’t wait to get back into the fight to protect us and help his buddies. There is no honor we can bestow on him other than “Thank you for all that you have done.”

Even his battle-hardened commanding officers are inspired by Naing’s determination and devotion to his country. Greenberg said the Marines are lucky to have a man like Naing.

“Sgt. Naing embodies everything that is admirable about Marines,” said Greenberg. “It is people like [him] who make me proud to wear the Marine Corps uniform.”

Men and women such as Sgt. Naing make me proud of being an American. As long as we have fine people like him, this country will survive.

Thank you Sgt. Than Naing from all of us at Anger Central.

That is *sniff* excuse me, I have something in my eye, all.

~The Angry Webmaster~

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