There has been a tremendous amount of outrage being expressed (and rightly so) over the past several days in the press regarding what I shall call "the photo" of a Marine, LCpl Joshua M. Bernard.
As a Mom, I was crushed to read about and see "the photo." As the days passed, I noticed that very little was being said about who the man name Joshua M. Bernard was!
I can't begin to understand the anguish that LCpl Bernard's parents are going through with the loss of their son, his sister with the loss of her brother. I can only say this, if it were my son who had died I would want him to be remembered for kind of person he was and for what he had done with his life.
I respectfully offer to you the following peek into who LCpl Joshua M. Bernard is:
He was a Marine. His father also served as a Marine 1stSg, now retired.
Joshua M. Bernard was home-schooled from kindergarten through 12th grade by his mother, receiving his high school diploma from North Atlantic Regional High School. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in November 2006.
He was assigned to Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines. Joshua was assigned to his unit in May 2007 and deployed to Iraq in January 2008.
LCpl Bernard served with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force based out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.
LCpl Bernard had such strong religious beliefs that he earned the nickname of “The Holy Man” while he was stationed in Hawaii.
Joshua was an active member of the teen youth group at his church, Crossroads Bible Church in Madison.
Joshua earned a number of awards during his time as a Marine: the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Global War on Terrorism Service medal, according to the Marine Corps Base Hawaii public affairs office.
He enjoyed gaming, hiking, snowboarding and shooting, and he was an avid reader and a big movie buff.
When asked to describe his son, Joshua's father replied that he was "humble, shy, unassuming — the very first to offer help."
"He definitely doesn't hesitate," said Jackson, 23, from Copley, Ohio. "He's very good, he definitely has the nerves to do what he's needed to do." "...a true-heartedly very good guy ... probably one of the best guys I've known in my entire life." Corporal Jackson served with LCpl Bernard.
There is an important person I made contact with regarding Joshua, and that is his Senior Drill Instructor. A person who had a profound impact on Joshua. I exchanged several emails with SSgt Whetstine regarding my writing of this article to honor the life of LCpl Bernard.
SSgt Whetstine gave me permission to reprint his comments left in the online guest book for Joshua.
"I was this young man's Senior Drill Instructor. He joined the Marine Corps in 2006 and graduated Recruit Training in March 2007.
I had the pleasure of knowing this young man and learning how much of a kind-hearted and caring individual he was. We had many talks and I learned from him about his father, a Retired Marine 1stSgt, and how much respect and admiration he had for him.
When I met his father it did not take me long to understand why his son thought so highly of him.
After Recruit Training he attended the School of Infantry as he was to become a Marine Infantry man. After his training he was assigned to 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines in Kaneohe Bay, HI.
It was in this unit that he received the nickname “The Holy Man” due to his strong religious beliefs. He did a deployment to Iraq while stationed at this unit and recently got deployed to Afghanistan where he gave the ultimate sacrifice.
He was an extremely courageous and unselfish person that would only do right by everyone.
He was someone that when you met him you knew that he was one in a million.
Someone that you could trust with your life. He was the kind of person that would do the right thing even if no one was there.
He joined because he wanted to make a difference and help people. He was the kind of person that looked at the good in everybody before the bad.
He joined during a time that he knew he was going to Combat and entered into a job that put him on the front lines.
There are not enough words in the English language to describe how special of a young man he was. He did not complain about deploying, because he knew that he was helping people.
He was extremely dedicated to his family, to God and to his Country.
This is the kind of person that America should love, because instead of holding up a sign and walking around preaching about peace he had the courage to do something about it and he proudly walked on the battlefield to help people achieve that peace.
He loved America and died for America we all love him and I for one will never forget him.
When I pass away I look forward to seeing him at the “Pearly Gates” as he becomes the one that teaches me just as I once taught him.
To his parents and family, know that we all love you and my prayers are with you.
~
joseph whetstine,
twentynine palms, California"
SSgt Whetstine impressed upon me that " As his Senior Drill Instructor some people might think that we are like stones and uncompassionate towards the Marines we train. I have to say that this is untrue, we care greatly for those young men and women and act the way we do because of our deep respect and compassion for them."
"This means a lot to me for his family to know that he was not just someone I trained. He was a man and is a great Marine and American Hero of whom I do care deeply for."
SSgt Whetstine, I don't know if LCpl Bernard's parents will ever read this, but in my heart I know that I have done my part to honor and help others to know the man they called MARINE! Joshua M. Bernard, LCpl U.S. Marine Corps.
He served his country willingly. I also know that he did not hesitate to step forward into battle on our behalf. I think it fitting that I end with this quote.
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Ronald Reagan, 40th president of the United States
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