IRAQ: ‘Nothing has changed’

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While on a foot patrol in Ramadi on May 16, 2006, Marine Gunnery Sgt. William ‘Spanky’ Gibson was shot by an insurgent sniper.

‘Basically, the bullet disintegrated my [left] knee cap, completely,’ said Gibson.

Now, 21 months later, Gibson is back in Iraq, possibly the only above-the-knee amputee to redeploy to Iraq. He’s part of the command element at Camp Fallouja, coordinating the use of artillery.

‘For me, this is a kind of closure,’ he said. ‘I say to myself, ‘Nothing has changed. I was injured. Now I’m back here.’ ‘

On a case-by-case basis, the Marines are allowing some amputees to remain in the Corps with limited duties.

Getting permission to redeploy to Iraq was more difficult. Initially, the bureaucracy was dubious. A general and a sergeant-major went to bat for Gibson, and permission was secured for him to deploy with the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

He’s brought five artificial legs: two for running, two for walking and a computerized leg for exercising. His gait only slightly suggests that he has an artificial leg. Some of the Marines he works with didn’t know of his injury until they saw him in the base exercise room.

‘That’s the way I want it,’ he said. ‘I want people to judge me on my work, not on my physical injury.’

Gibson’s wife, a former Marine, is in Oklahoma with their 3-year-old daughter. His three children from a previous marriage are in California.

With 19 years in the Corps, Gibson, 36, just reenlisted for another five. He’s been selected for master sergeant.

‘I want to go to Afghanistan, I haven’t been there,’ he said.

— Tony Perry at Camp Fallouja