The true American

I may want to be the america that everything thinks that they are, but today someone else deserves my respect as an American and hero. I will now commit plagiarism, as I will write word for word the story of a true American as said by the "Des Moines Register". and for those wondering about him think about the cover of "Time" magazine when the Iraq war started. Here goes, it will be long. Bear with the spelling errors I will be typing it along the way

" One of Gerald Kasal's final wishes was to live long enough to see his son receive th Navy Cross, one of the nation's highest awards.
He almost made it.
Kasal, 69, a retired Afton area farmer, died Sunday morning after a battle with liver cancer.
His condition had gradually deteriorated, making him too ill to travel to Camp Pendelton ,Calif., where his son, Brad will be decorated today for combat heroism in Iraq and promoted to sergeant major in the Marin Corps.
Volunteers had worked hard in recent days to set up a live hookup at Southwestern Community College in Creston, where the elder Kasal (pronounced castle) had hoped to gather with family and friends to watch the ceremony. Despite his death, the event is expected to go on as planned with participants paying their respects to Gerald Kasal while honoring his son.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Powers Funeral Home of Creston.
Ethe elder Kasal had sold his farm recently becaus of his failing health and had move to Creston. Graveside services are planned for 11:30 am Thursday at National Cemetary in Vining, IA.
Brad Kasal,39, joined the the Marines after graduating from East Union High School in 1984.
He was shot seven times on Nov. 13, 2004 while leading a mission to rescue three wonded Marines in an insurgent held hous in Fallujah, Iraq.
qMoments later, he suffered more than 40 shrapnel wonds after he bear-hugged a fellow Marine to protect him f4roma grenade explosion.
He Killed an insurgent inside the house in an exchange of gunfire at point blank range.
Reports had been circulating for the past year that the Iowan might be a candidate for thMedal of Honor, the nation's highest military award. Instead Kasal will be awarded the Navy Cross, the second highest ranking medal for Marines. he is one of only 10 Marines awarded the Navy Cross for heroism in Iraq or Afghanistan, military officials said.
"It is a great honor. I am very humbled by it," Kasal said in an interview last week. "Just the fact that I would be considered for it is humbling"
In a sense, he said, it was a relief not to win thMedal of Honor because such an award would have brought even mor attention to him.
His heroics in Iraq gained Kasal near legendary status agter a phot of him, bloodied and holding a 9 mm hand gun as he was helped by two gellow Marines, was circulated on dozens of Internet sites..
He was honored inFebruary by the Iowa House andSenate, which gave him standing ovations, after unanimously passing resolutions in each chamber citing him for patriotic and courageous service.
Both his ailing father-who was in a wheelchair- and his mother, Myrna Kasal, were at his side during the salutes.
The live video links today between Iowa and Camp Pendleton are being coordinated by Dick Bartlett, a Dyersvill native who now lives in Oceanside, Calif.
Bartlett is a volunteer for the Freedom Calls Foundation which was assisted in arranging the video hookups by community college officials, tthe Iowa Communications Network, Cox Business Services, and Marines.
Today's ceremony will be attended in Calif. by hundred of Kasal's fellow Marines. Maj. Gen Michael Lehner, commander of Marine Corps installations on the West Coast, will present the award.
Kasal suffered such serious injuries to his right leg in Iraq that doctors recommended months agterward that he unergo amputation. But the Marine stubbornly rejected that advice and has worked hard rehabilitation.
Kasal has received orders to be transferred later this month to Des Moines, wher he will be a key figure in Marine recruiting in a five state are. Eventually, he said, he hopes to return to combat status with a Marine unit."

This is an American. I am actually disappointed in this story because I believe if an American is deserving of the Medal of Honor, he is the one. For anyone not familiar with this man, Google Brad Kasal on the Images page and you will know a true American hero and be proud of what he is now struggling through, with the death of his father.
PS.
On May 1st of 2006 I know who America Is