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Triathlon triumph
VALPARAISO — Ben Baltz wasn’t excited about competing in yet another triathlon last weekend.
It was his third in the last few months. While he likes bicycling, running isn’t his favorite activity, especially if he can’t win doing it.
The 11-year-old had completed the 150-yard swim and three-mile bike ride in Sunday’s Sea Turtle Tri on Pensacola Beach, but about a half-mile into the run, he knew something was wrong.
“It (the leg) wobbles,” Ben said Wednesday at his home in Valparaiso.
Moments later, the screws on his prosthetic leg came loose and he went down.
What happened next, though, has captured the attention of the nation.
In the moments Ben was debating whether he could hop or maybe crawl the rest of the mile, a man named Matthew Morgan, a Marine who had volunteered to help at the youth event, stepped in.
“(Morgan said) ‘You need help?’ and I said, ‘Sure,’ and he picked me up and carried me,” Ben said.
For the next half mile, Ben held onto Pfc. Morgan with one arm and his prosthetic leg with the other.
Ben said he and Morgan didn’t really speak after their first exchange, but more Marines gathered around and sang a cadence.
As they reached the end and the crowd started roaring, Ben said he felt grateful for the help, but a little frustrated and embarrassed that he couldn’t complete the course on his own.
Bad Brad
October 11th, 2012
Sheeeeit. I got something in my eye. Great story.
Weldor
October 11th, 2012
There’s a reason God made Marines.
And there it is.
Genl Ripper
October 11th, 2012
I’m sure I’m screwing up the quote but here goes, “And gazing upon Heaven’s scenes, the streets of gold will be guarded by United States Marines.”
May God bless our United States Marines and God bless Ben Baltz.
Genl Ripper
Redwagyu
October 11th, 2012
@Ripper…
“if the army or the navy
ever gaze on Heaven’s scenes,
they will find the streets are guarded by
The United States Marines…”
Now sound off like you have a pair!
Trixie Bluebell
October 12th, 2012
Semper Fi
Frosteetoes
October 12th, 2012
God bless ‘em!
Eric
October 12th, 2012
I dare anyone to find a Government Motors Union worker who would take up this fight like any Marine would.
serfer62
October 12th, 2012
USMC…the 911 for everything
SF
Unruly Refugee
October 12th, 2012
Great story. And, if you read the whole thing, a testimony to duct tape too.
HooHooNayNay
October 12th, 2012
Heard this yesterday morning on AirOne. Bawled then too.
fxdwg
October 12th, 2012
We never, EVER leave a man behind.
Semper Fi.
Team America
October 12th, 2012
God Bless this boy and our Marines.
God Bless our Troops. Especially our Snipers.
wow
October 12th, 2012
@fxdwg
even BI-den?
GW Bear
October 12th, 2012
Semper Fi!