Charissa caught my eye early. Her kind words belied an inner strength and will to fight that is likely to surprise any that underestimates her.
She's a Corpsman in the Navy, which itself is a contrast. Short of SeALs, Navy Corpsmen are one of the most likely positions to find themselves in the middle of a firefight. Loved and protected by the Marines they are surrounded by, their role is to keep Our Warriors alive, patching holes made by bullets, even while the bullets pierce the air around them. It takes a complete dedication to the task at hand when ignoring the enemy to patch up the friendlies. And that does not even take note of the fact that most humans would be balled up in the fetal position or running for their lives during such an event.
But her stories don't celebrate herself, but demonstrate an honor and gratitude for others. She's attempted to stay out of the spotlight and has regularly chastised me for swinging it on her, but on her site she tells of how the Elderly Veterans have touched her while picking up medications each week, for perhaps the last time.
My favorite cartoonist, @DeltaB5 found himself in the crossfire of Charissa and myself, after he committed to including her in his strip. I imagine there was also the pressure of a stilletto heel in the mix as @KneeDeep's watchful eye anticipated the results. While I argued for angelic wings for the caring Princess, the subject argued for razor sharp claws representative of her ability to protect with force. As is so often the case when men encounter such smart and strong-willed women, the two Army Veterans lost the battle: there were no wings. It's hard to be certain whether Damon felt deeper impressions from the stillettos or razor sharp claws.
She was also the subject of an ezine article and has her own blog. She is certainly someone you'll want on your contact list and has a blog you'll be rewarded by reading. Her gracious attitude and focus on others is a breath of fresh air.
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