American Valor Quarterly Issue 6 - Spring/Summer 2009

Eventually, I awoke to hear my battalion commander and sergeant major, speaking to the other wounded Marines after having visited the dead. They came to my bedside and told me that we had fought a good ﬁght and did a great job, but that not everybody had made it out of there. They read the names of the ﬁve Marines that had passed away – two of them were from my platoon, and one was a great friend. They were all brothers. I laid there, closed my eyes, and wept. Still groggy from the medication, I think I ended up passing out again. Once I said goodbye to the Marine Corps as an active duty infantryman, I lived in San Diego for a few years. I went on to marry my wife – the love of my life. She came back to California with me, and I showed her around the Marine base, helping her to see where I had lived and what I had become. We sat and watched the new Marines and were just in awe of these young men and women. I have tremendous respect for those that serve – in every branch – knowing that there is a chance they could be sent into harm’s way. It was, and it always will be, an honor to know that I was a United States Marine, and that I served alongside some of the best men that walk the face of this earth. And having gone through what I did, I now have a greater appreciation of life. It is unfortunate that so many people take what we have in the country for granted. Still, I would gladly do it all again, for my country, for my wife, and now for my son. In the end, I am just grateful that I was one of the few and the proud. I woke up later just in time to ﬁnd myself being loaded into a CH-46 helicopter. I was evacuated from Camp Fallujah and eventually flown to Germany where I underwent another surgery, before being brought back to Bethesda Naval Hospital and eventually Camp Pendleton, California. I was wounded on December 12, and had made it back to Camp Pendleton by the 17th . I was very impressed with their capabilities of getting the wounded home quickly. When I ﬁrst arrived at Camp Pendleton, the doctors told me that I would probably never Sgt. Jason Arellano with his wife, Lindwalk normally again due to my injuries. But they told me how lucky I was – much of the shrapnel was just shy of hitting major arteries, which would have certainly done me in. I told them luck had nothing to do with it, that I was blessed. I had a lot of people praying for me. Soon I was able to walk on my own with a cane. Only a month later, I was up walking on my own, and eventually forced myself to start to jog. Sgt. Jason Arellano’s story is proﬁled in the ﬁlm Perfect Valor, named Best Feature Documentary for 2009 at the GI Film Festival. To order a DVD or learn more, visit PerfectValor.com or call 866-2643547. AVQ Today I can run and jump, and don’t have a limp in my walk. I feel pain in my leg and groin if I sit or stand it the same position for too long. But I cannot complain. I have all of my limbs and all of my abilities, and I know there are a number of Marines and Soldiers out there who are not as fortunate. Thank You For Your Support! The American Veterans Center, with its two divisions - the World War II Veterans Committee and the National Vietnam Veterans Committee - is grateful for your continued support in our shared mission of preserving the history and legacy of America’s veterans and service members. All of our programs, including this magazine, are solely funded through the voluntary contributions of individuals like you. If you would like to support our work, please send your tax-deductible donation in the enclosed envelope. Every bit helps, and we remain grateful for your support. AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Spring/Summer 2009 - 43 Jason Arellano To learn more about our many projects, including how to share your story or the story of a family member who has served, please visit www.americanveteranscenter.org or call 703-302-1012 ext. 214. How You Can Help

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