TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | JAN 2021 9
American Legion Post 154
By Bill Chaffins
What’s in a name?
HERO
Webster’s Dictionary defines Hero as: A man of distinguished valor
or enterprise in danger, or fortitude in suffering; a prominent or central
personage in any remarkable action or event; hence, a great or illustrious
person.
“Each man is a hero and an oracle to somebody.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Old Ralph really said a mouthful. Hero is a word that seems to be
thrown around a lot with a loosened sense of what it actually means.
I have read countless stories of real Heroes and they usually start off
with … “Without hesitation, and with complete disregard for his/her own
safety, (insert Hero’s name), or “By his/her courage, professionalism, and
complete dedication to duty” (insert Hero’s name), then moves along with
the jaw dropping story.
One of these stories is about a U.S. Marine named Kyle Carpenter,
a Lance Corporal with 2d Battalion 9th Marines, stationed in Helmand
Providence, Afghanistan on 21 November 2010. He and a small team
were manning a rooftop security position when the enemy initiated a
daylight attack with hand grenades, one of which landed inside their
sandbag position.
“Without hesitation, and with complete disregard for his own safety,
L/Cpl Carpenter moved toward the grenade in an attempt to shield his
fellow Marines from the deadly blast. When the grenade detonated, his
body absorbed the brunt of the explosion, severely wounding him, but
saving the life of his fellow brother-in-arms. Kyle Carpenter was just a
21 year old Marine then.
Another story is much, much closer to home and heart:
This story is about a kind, gentle soul, a young man who put the
apple in his mother’s eye. This man saved countless mothers, fathers,
sisters, brothers and friends from the total earth shattering grief that his
own family and friends would and will endure forever. So much thanks,
appreciation and sorrow wrapped up in the events at 6:43 am, December
06, 2019.
Petty Officer Cameron Walters was steadfastly standing his post at
Building #633 when an armed assailant opened fire, mortally wounding
him. Cameron was the first and only line of defense for the men and
women of Naval Aviation Schools, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida.
“By his courage, professionalism, and complete dedication to duty,
United States Navy Petty Officer Cameron Walters reflected great credit
upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval
Service.”
My Deepest Respect, on one knee with head bowed.
Respectfully submitted for my friend, Ms. Amanda Walters of Tybee
Island, Georgia.
Cameron Walters was just 21 years old.
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