Iraq war veteran loses sight, but gains insight

On his 24th birthday, Michael Jernigan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. His father, a former Marine and veteran of the Vietnam War, swore him in.

Shortly after joining the military, Jernigan learned of an opportunity to go to Iraq. Why did he volunteer?

"I just wanted to go. I was a Marine and I wanted to fight in the war."

Six months into a seven-month deployment, Jernigan was struck by a roadside bomb, or IED, while on a mounted patrol in conjunction with the Iraqi police. His life would never be the same.

Jernigan suffered anatomical loss of both of his eyes, a crushed skull and a variety of other injuries to his hands and knees.

But despite the challenges Jernigan has suffered he maintains a positive attitude.

"If a person can drum up the will to push on and keep fighting then there's nothing that can stand
in their way."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• veteran
• Iraq
• war
• sight
• Marine
• military
• IED
• roadside
• bomb
• news

[des00s]

It is a shame he had a father that brought him up into this mess. No son of mine will ever go fight in a pointless war.

[Bookstop1337]

@alexman18

And if it wasn't for France the US wouldn't have survived the revolutionary war..

[botswanky]

I feel for this man, but... he's a trained killer that was prepared to murder another human. The only just wars in man's history are the wars waged by God's people in the scriptures. Mankind's governments have never been involved in a 'just' war, including the 1st & 2nd world wars. Wars are always waged to further ones interests at the expense of human misery. Only a blind fool actually accepts the lies our rotten-to-the-core governments feed us, century after century they fail us, am I wrong?

[SLINGSHOTandMOLOTOWS]

usa is the reason for the most death in irak. dont lie and say its truckbombs.

[Admirdakaj]

@felixu95 most americans are..!

[louisdvx]

@67tr876 I did.

[67tr876]

@louisdvx Then get out

[felixu95]

@alexman18 And if it wasn't for us French motherfuckers the colonies would have lost the American Revolutionary War. I'm not trying to disrespect Americans, since I live here, but you were just being a douchebag.

[GeRzAwN]

This guy is something else, a great man to say the least.

[dragonslikemuffins1]

He has a amazing spirit and a lot of personal courage. And your a hero michael Jernigan. Your definetly my hero

[MrSoymoney]

@alexman18 Don't forget Canada! :)