Iraq vet gets kidney transplant from fellow Marine

An Iraq veteran received a kidney donation this week in San Diego, donated by a fellow Marine left brain-dead following a training accident, squeezing what is normally a five-year process into two days.

The rare, fast-paced swap shows the deep bond among service members and their families, one that continues even after death. As Sgt. Jacob Chadwick prepared to leave the hospital Thursday, hundreds of motorcycles and police cars escorted 2nd Lt. Patrick Wayland’s casket through his hometown of Midland, Texas, as thousands lined the streets waving American flags.

 “Patrick took an oath to serve his country. Few people are able to do that,” Wayland’s friend, 2nd Lt. John Silvestro told the Glendale News-Press. “Patrick, he would consider himself lucky to serve not only his country, but his fellow Marine.”

--Brittany Levine, Times Community News

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Photo: Sgt. Jacob Chadwick with his daughter Ella Marie (Courtesy of Victoria Chadwick)