Images courtesy: FacebookGunnery Sgt. Robert Gilbert II spent the morning of his 28th birthday in a Bethesda, Maryland, hospital bed. While some might label being critically wounded by a sniper's bullet as incredibly bad luck, a stirring chronology of the Marine's final days, shared by his loved ones, may lead to a different conclusion. A series of miracles, coupled with Gunnery Sgt. Gilbert's amazing strength, ensured that the American hero would survive until his final birthday, surrounded by his family, friends, and fellow Marines.
According to the Pentagon, Gilbert was seriously wounded on March 8 in Afghanistan's Badghis province. The Richfield, Ohio, native was supporting combat operations with the 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Special Operations Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command. A family friend told The Akron Beacon Journal that the terrorist's bullet did severe damage to the right side of his skull, yet the Marine fought hard and made it back to American soil alive. As reporter Katie Byard explains, it wasn't the first time that "Gunny," as he was affectionately nicknamed, defied the odds.
About two weeks earlier, Gilbert survived another shooting when his Kevlar vest stopped the bullet.
Gilbert, who joined the Marines when he was 18, was on his fifth tour of duty in the Middle East and his second tour in Afghanistan.
On March 10, Bob Gilbert flew to Germany, where his son was stabilized after being transferred from Afghanistan.
The Marine's father then helped escort his critically wounded son to Bethesda on a military plane. Through an enormously difficult ordeal that few of us can imagine, the Richfield police officer decided to share his emotions with the world on Facebook. The result is a tribute group appropriately named "GySgt Robert Gilbert- A miracle in the making," which is nothing short of a national treasure. If you visit the page, you will not be able to stop reading the powerful posts of support, which includes this stunning account from the Marine's father from inside the hospital room. After painful soul-searching, neurosurgeons and the Gilbert family had decided to remove the Marine from a respirator so his organs could be donated.
"Sunday morning came fast and we were ready to uphold the wishes of my youngest child. The Recon Marines escorted GySgt Robert to the OR to complete his final battle in this mortal life. Ruth Ann and I held my sons head, Chief (medic) was holding his left arm, Doc was standing Guard for the fallen Gunny and the Chaplin invited the Lord Jesus to join us. GySgt Robert was removed from the ventilator, but his strong muscular heart and powerful lungs prevailed and supported life. GySgt Robert was returned to the ICU, having defeated modern medicine in battle."
While doctors warned the family that the overall outlook was still dire, the Marine's incredible survival on Sunday was a miracle. He continued fighting until the very end, which came on Tuesday night. After spending most of his 28th birthday with his father, Gunnery Sgt. Robert Gilbert II would spend the rest of the night with his mother, who passed away after a battle with cancer.
While every post in the Facebook group is moving, Amanda Gilbert-Hodgson summed up the tragic ordeal in a particularly effective way.
"Sometimes miracles aren't what we want them to be---sometimes they are more subtle than that. When we become better people because of our loss and our heartbreak, when we are so inspired by the bravery and sacrifice of one so young and we proceed to live our lives in a new way, we become the miracle."
It is also a miracle that America had Gunnery Sgt. Robert Gilbert II for 28 years, to defend its honor and defeat its enemies abroad.
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