Note: This is a re-post from June 10 in honor of Cpl. Jacob Leicht, who would have turned 25 today.He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ring’d with the azure world, he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.
Even the immortal poetry of Alfred, Lord Tennyson does not do justice to the extraordinary story of Cpl. Jacob Leicht. Since his birth on July 4, 1985, the Marine's unbreakable patriotism stood out like a bald eagle gliding through America's skies. To many, his name represents the 1,000th U.S. combat death of the war in Afghanistan. Yet Cpl. Leicht stood for much more than any statistic could ever represent.
During two post-9/11 combat tours in the lonely lands of Afghanistan and Iraq, the 24-year-old Marine saw the horrors perpetrated by insurgents and terrorists against U.S. troops and innocent civilians. Jonathan Leicht said standing on the sidelines as America battles fanatics seeking to destroy freedom was simply not an option for his little brother.
"As a Christian, he was acutely aware of the evil forces in the world, and as a Marine he was willing to stand up against them," he said.
While speaking with the Marine's brothers, The San Antonio Express-News uncovered an amazing story of bravery that can inspire not only Leicht's fellow men and women in uniform, but Americans who have not had the honor of serving their country. In May 2007, the Marine was serving in Iraq when his humvee hit an improvised explosive device planted by terrorists. The vehicle exploded and Leicht was badly injured. Sgt. Nicholas Brandau, who was also riding in the humvee, said wounds to his fellow Marine's leg were so devastating that he could have opted for a medical retirement.
"But all he could talk about was how he was gonna get back to his boys, get back to the front lines. It was an incredible thing he did," Sgt. Brandau said during Leicht's funeral service in Kerrville, Texas.
To emphasize what Leicht went through to accomplish this feat, John MacCormack's article said the Marine underwent 18 surgeries to mend his crooked limb. Even in the first moments after his injury, Leicht showed incredible optimism, singing songs by military veteran Johnny Cash with fellow Marines and insisting he'd soon be back on his feet. While he always knew death could be the result of his service, a quote from his younger brother in a wonderful Daily Courier editorial shows the Marine was willing to pay the ultimate price for his country.
"He said he always wanted to die for his country and be remembered. He didn't want to die having a heart attack or just being an old man. He wanted to die for something."
From those words, it is obvious that Jesse Leicht knew exactly what his older brother stood for. He enlisted in the Marines just before his hero fell in Afghanistan's Helmand province on May 27, and will undoubtedly serve with similar dignity and honor. While the more than 1,000 stories of tragedy and loss from Afghanistan are almost impossible to comprehend, knowing that a Leicht is still shining in the Marine Corps should make us all feel fortunate to be protected by this admirable generation of volunteer warriors.
After coming into the world during July 4th fireworks and leaving like a thunderbolt from heaven, Cpl. Jacob Leicht is watching over his brothers and sisters in arms as he soars above us. Hopefully, he also finds some time to sing some Johnny Cash tunes with other war buddies who didn't make it home. Try to relax, brave Marine. Your job is done, and you've made God, Corps, and country proud.
Note: Memorial contributions in honor of Cpl. Jacob Leicht can be made to the Semper Fi Fund. The Leicht family also asks for your thoughts and prayers for all U.S. troops in harm's way, especially the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, which is still deployed in Afghanistan.
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