"Don't cry over me"

There's only two people whose ever died for me
Laid down their lives just so I could be free
They both went through hell bared crosses and shells
And both got back up again after they fell
They never pick a fight but their there to pick up the pieces
God only knows where we'd be without soldiers and Jesus

The day Lance Cpl. Nicholas O'Brien's battalion shipped out for his first deployment to Afghanistan, the young Marine sent his parents an email to reassure them and tell them to sleep easy.

"If something happens to me, don't cry over me because this is what I want to be doing," he wrote.
That was in March. On Thursday evening, three Marines arrived at his family's home in Stanley to give them somber news: About 10 hours earlier, O'Brien had been killed while on foot patrol in Afghanistan's Helmand province.

O'Brien was a 2008 East Gaston High School graduate who turned 21 about two weeks ago in Afghanistan.
A talented high school baseball player, O'Brien was offered college scholarships to continue playing ball, said his father, Richard O'Brien. "He had a lot of choices in front of him," Richard O'Brien said. But he was determined to go a different route. "Nic made his mind up when he was about 15 years old that he was going into the Marine Corps - come hell or high water," said his father, a veteran Marine.

Nic O'Brien entered active duty in fall 2009. He was an infantryman in 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division, which is based at Camp Pendleton in California. His father said his son knew he'd be heading to Afghanistan. In fact, it was his goal to go there. "He was a true American hero in every sense of the word," said Richard O'Brien. "He sacrificed his life for something he believed in."

As news of his death spread, his friends began sharing memories of O'Brien on Facebook while others made plans to meet at a local baseball field Friday night to honor the fallen Marine. Richard O'Brien said he and his wife, Tammy, were stunned by the outpouring of love and support on Facebook. "Thank you Nic for everything you've done," wrote one friend. "You will be truly missed."

Ginger Petty of Belmont said she was devastated by his death. She said she'd known O'Brien since he was about 10 years old. He grew up playing baseball with her eldest son, Lee. She described O'Brien has a "wonderful boy" and a great outfielder who never belittled anyone and found a friend in everyone. He was the kind of person who wasn't afraid to step in when he saw a friend in need, she said.

She also said her son Lee struggled with the death of his father when he was a senior in high school, and he was in jeopardy of not graduating. But O'Brien talked to him about what was going on and encouraged him. The pair graduated together weeks later. Petty said she hadn't heard that story until Friday. "It was the first time Lee ever told me," she said. "I thought it was amazing for someone at that age...Nic deserves to be recognized."

East Gaston High math teacher Chad Owens taught O'Brien as an 11th-grader and helped coach him baseball. He described a student who "always liked to be out front... who made catching a baseball look easy and effortless." Over the years, the two became friends, especially after O'Brien graduated and became a Marine.

"You always hear how the teacher impacts the life of a student," Owens said, his voice choking. "In this situation... it's the other way around. "It's a student who's impacted a teacher, an athlete who's impacted a coach. "And now, he's my hero."

Richard O'Brien said his family plans to travel to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to meet his son's body when it arrives there. He said there will be a local memorial service, and his son will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.



Shortly after O'Brien's body was flown into Charlotte on Monday, the tears fell as six Marine pallbearers placed his flag-draped casket into a hearse. They cried for the boy with the brainy, "disproportionately big" head, who at East Gaston High won the Algebra II award as an 11th-grader, starred on its baseball and soccer teams and who couldn't wait to get to Afghanistan to fight for his country.

"It is the human thing to weep and to grieve," said the Rev. George Sherman of Shady Brook Baptist Church , O'Brien's family church. "But there is a time to smile as you reflect."

His body arrived at Wilson Air Center in Charlotte. As it was transferred to a hearse, O'Brien's father, Richard, himself a former Marine, wrapped his arms around O'Brien's mother, Tammy, and his younger sister, 16-year-old Haley. Dozens of law enforcement cars and hundreds of Patriot Guard motorcycle riders escorted the family and casket. Along the way, hundreds lined U.S. 74, waving flags and holding signs of thanks to O'Brien. Bob Bradley and Walt Thompson, both former Marines, held a sign with big letters: "SEMPER FI," the shortened motto of the Marines.

Just outside Belmont, Diana Shipman of Gastonia brought her daughters, Katelyn, 10, and Kamryn, 7, to pay respects. "I wanted them to see that people do honor and respect the military," Shipman said. "This young man gave his life for this country." And John Hayes, 63, sat in Gastonia, dressed in his former Marine dress blues. "I wore it to show my respect for the uniform and this kid who died way too young," Hayes said. "He was just a kid."

When I am sitting down to post these stories I read a lot about soldiers who have been killed in action. I wish that I could try and tell a little of everyone of their stories to the world. Since I have been here I have helped send about 70 fallen heroes back home to their families so when I am reading their stories I try to get to know each one of them as best as I can.

I think of their family and friends and what their last hours on this earth must have been like. I thank God for instilling the power in each one of them to make the sacrifice they made and for giving me the opportunity to honor them in my own way.

For the last few weeks I can imagine that  Nics fmaily and friends every thought has had a "won't" in it. He won't come home, we won't talk, we won't laugh. That boy with the ironic gaze and the awesome sense of humor won't be anymore. That young man with the wisdom so much more profound than his age won't be anymore. That warm smile and that healthy appetite won't be anymore, that uncommon combination of determination and tenderness won't be anymore, his common sense and discernment won't be anymore. Nic was a son, brother and friend. I imagine he illuminated lives  and made it hard not to love him. I imagine he was a man of value and he had courage to do anything. I only hope that someday I will be able to thank each and every man and woman who has given their life for you and me in person.

The other day I was listening to a General tell a story about an experience he had in the Mall of America parking lot. He said that as he was walking the in the mall he noticed a man getting out of his vehicle with a bumper sticker that said “Support the Troops”. The General struck up a conversation with the man as they were walking in the mall and he said “thank you for your support, I am a General in the Air Force” and so on. As they were talking the General said “well what do you do to support the troops”? The man replied with “well I bought the sticker”

I thought this was funny and I wanted to share it with Y’all. There are so many ways to supprt the troops, wether it be; sending a care package, writing a letter, donating to a foundation or even just taking some time out of your day to say a prayer and thank God that you have someone fighting for you. So I have to ask you “what are you doing to support our troops”? Because God only knows where we’d be without soldiers and Jesus!