Passing of Sgt. Merlin German
By Lt. Col. Olbrich, Officer in Charge, Marine Patient Affairs Team, Brooke Army Medical Center
Sgt Merlin German’s death on 11 Apr 08 shook Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) unlike any other that we have seen in the past three years.
(L to R) Lt. General James Amos, Sgt. Merlin German, and Sgt German.s Mother, Yvonne German at his meritorious promotion to Sgt. In December of 2006.
Word of his unexpected death, on a Friday night the day after his 100+ surgery, spread quickly among the hospital staff. Within an hour, the commanding general, all of his deputy commanders, and most of the Burn Center’s off-duty nurses, therapists, and doctors were coming in to the ICU room and say goodbye to Merlin and grieve with his parents.
On 21 Feb 2004, then LCpl German, 2/11, was on convoy duty traveling through Ramadi when his humvee was attacked with an IED. He arrived at BAMC on 25 Feb with 3rd degree burns covering 97% of his total body surface area and a 3% chance of living. He was an inpatient for 499 days, celebrated two birthdays, and was meritoriously promoted twice. Despite countless setbacks and seemingly unrecoverable illnesses, Merlin simply refused to quit.
The first time I saw Merlin, I was looking at him through the ICU room window. I was thinking, "Please don’t make me go in there please don’t make me go in there..."
SSgt Cosme Martinez is our Reception SNCOIC and recalls this story:
"After Sgt German was released from ICU and transferred to the step-down ward, his appetite suddenly increased and some of his favorite foods were not catered here at BAMC.
One of my many visits with him enlightened me to the fact how much he enjoyed Hooters Wings.
"After a few weeks passed and he was cleared to eat all foods, I asked him if he would like some wings from Hooters. He responded with a vigorous, "YES!"
"I went to the local Hooters and brought him a dozen wings. The Hooters Girls all signed a calendar for Sgt German with well wishes and they also signed a t-shirt.
When I delivered the wings, he asked, "So where are the Hooters Girls?" I told him I couldn’t get them past security but they all signed two items for him. He was ecstatic about the calendar and shirt and said, "One day I’m going to go over there and thank them."
"Well, after leaving BAMC as an inpatient, he made it over to Hooters in and thanked all the ladies for the well wishes. He had a heart of gold. When Sgt German made a decision to do something, he did it. He never let anything (including his injuries) stop him from doing what he wanted."
He was the embodiment of our core values. The only times I ever heard him complain would have been post-op and he had to have been in agony. Even as an outpatient, I know he must have been suffering, but he never complained. He knew that other burn survivors at BAMC--military or civilian--were looking to him, and he always carried himself as a Marine. He made us embarrassed to complain about our own problems, and he made us so proud to put on our uniforms and come to work everyday. We are a better Marine Corps because of Sgt Merlin German.
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Such a terrible end to such a brave man...Many men have suffered like Sgt. German, but thanks (depending how you look at it) to the many advances in medical care, he lived for almost 4 years with about 97% of his body devastated by 3rd degree burns. This man is by definition, esprit de corps, and I hope that DI's in Paris Island and San Diego will forever refer to him when talking about what it is to be a Marine. Sgt. German was a fighter and what he went through should never be forgotten. So Monday, when you are thankful for your day off of work and eating burgers with your friends and family, the sacrifices of men like Sgt. German come to mind. "Some people spend their entire lifetime wondering if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem" -Ronald Reagan
Posted by: Jeff Finn | 05/26/2011 at 04:01 PM