Dear Marines,

My Godfather is disabled with multiple disabilities. He always wanted to serve as
a USMC Aviator, but due to his disabilities
he of course could not serve. He is on
Social Security Disability and has been since
February of 1989, and he will be 40 on the 22nd
of July of 2009.

I am a medical student (full ride
scholarship), and so all of the cots
involved are paid for by my school. I
get an honorarium of $100 per "SHIFT"
that I work (be it 12 hours or 5 days,
I still only get $100, from when I first
"clock in" until I "clock out"). So after
expenses like food, housing, utilities, and
gasoline, I do not have much left over.

I have received permission from the
Department of the Navy to enter service
as a physician when I finish my Residency
(after my internship), or I can do my
Residency within the US Navy. I would
enter the USMC, but they do not have
doctors. But it is possible for me to be
attached to a USMC unit. So the closest I
can be to being a US Marine.

I am a very special case for the
Department of the Navy. I am 5'0" tall
and I am 98 pounds. This is because I
have Ambulatory Spastic Paraplegic Cerebral
Palsy (above the waist, I am not affected at
all. below the waist, I walk a little bit
funny and my legs are a bit stiff). So it
took quite a bit of work to get them to
accept me, let alone extend to me a Residency
while I am only an intern.

I can perform surgery and all the
duties of being a US Navy Physician in
a combat zone, along with being able to
be attached to a USMC unit. I have
experience with an AR-15, a M-1911, and
both Beretta and Glock 9mm's. I have
qualified as a Marksman, Expert, and
Sniper in USMC/Civilian competitions.

Now, that I have introduced myself
and given you some history, I will try
to get to the point. As my Godfather,
wanted to become a USMC Aviator... I
want to serve in his place. To make him
proud (I have worked hard in school, was
on the Tennis, Wrestling, and Swim teams
in Jr. High and in Prep High School. So
by the time I was out of Prep, I was able
to walk totally unassisted all day long.

What I would like to do is get some
USMC items for my Godfather. Things such
as Decals, EGA's, whatever you can spare.
He is 6'2". about 285 pounds, about a 48"
waist and about a 52 chest. I do not know
what you can help with, but any USMC items
would be very special to him. If you are
willing to donate any USMC items, please
let me know and I will provide you with
more information as well as his mailing
address. It would be nice if he had something
USMC to wear (he is in major need of clothing,
since his Social Security Disability and
Supplemental Security Income of a total of
$623 a month. His Food Stamps are only about
$78 a month. After his $500 a month in
rent and utilities, the rest goes for his
Medicare Part D co-payments, and all of hisother needs. It does not go far at all. I
try to help him whenever I can.

He may not physically be able to be a
US Marine, he is everything a Marine should
be in his heart. So I really hope that some
of you can help him. I know it will be a
great blessing for him. Heck, even MRE's
would be welcome ($78 in good stamps do not
go that far).

God Bless and Semper Fi,

Robbie