Guidance from his sons

It’s about Dr. Bill Krissoff, an orthopedic surgeon from the Lake Tahoe area whose son, a Marine Lieutenant, gave his life in Iraq a year ago. His other son is also become a Marine officer. Following their lead, the father has overcome obstacles, including the usual age limt (he’s 61 years old) and joined up for three years as a Navy surgeon and he’s headed to Iraq to tend to wounded Marines.

“Both my sons were hugely affected by the events of 9/11, and Nate was proud to serve in the Marines, as Austin is,” Krissoff says. “I share their views.”

(snip)

“My interest in Navy medicine,” Krissoff says, “was because they take care of Marines.”

To get around the age limitation, Dr. Krissoff – now Lt. Commander Krissoff – went right to the top:

Because 42 is the Navy’s age cutoff for medical officer enlistees, Krissoff was initially told that joining would be a difficult and lengthy process. So he pressed the issue and asked for the needed waiver from the highest authority he could find – President Bush.

Krissoff met Bush in August at an American Legion convention in Reno. The doctor described the personal meeting he had with the president immediately following the convention as a solemn experience with a small group of families grappling with the loss of loved ones in war.

Krissoff says Bush asked each family what he could do for them.

Krissoff told the president he wanted to serve.

Read the whole inspiring, uplifting thing.

I like Taranto’s final comment on the story:

If only he got as much attention as a certain antiwar malcontent.

You know, the one who also met with the President and then set up a camp in the ditch in Crawford. One Bill Krissoff is worth more than a million of those.

Boy, 11, Uses Toy Lightsaber to Defend Mom From Attacker

Indeed, this young Padawan will grow to be a strong Jedi.