Rory was a member of Fox Co., 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines based at LeJeune, N.C. following Boot Camp and School of Infantry. Colorado Springs born, grew up in Lake Orion, MI., joined the Marines after graduating and now ‘rests’ in Holly, MI., at the Great Lakes National Cemetery. Eight-month deployment to Afghanistan in January 2011 as a Rifleman, Field Medic, assigned an explosives-detection dog after 2 months, tasked with finding IEDs. He was to discover the most IED’s while over there after he re-trained his Lab, Holly.

School was not his forte, but knew he had to be there, getting up each morning to catch the bus on his own. Teachers were always on his back to do homework as it dealt with writing, was not interested in sports and generally an average kid liking Xbox games, Batman and later the Bourne/Bond movies, where the idea formed to eventually join the intelligence network. Fortunate to have had the opportunity to be surrounded by people who influence him in all manner of ways, including his schoolteacher's, even though he did not see eye to eye with them. The day he asked us permission to join the Marines, there was confidence in his voice and once granted, he was ready then to leave school but was persuaded not to by the Recruiter.

The lead up to Graduation saw him surprisingly determined to complete school and be ready, physically, for Boot Camp under the tutoring of his Recruiter, who stated it was the first time he’d come across a candidate eager to join the Marines. December ’09 saw our kid on a bus and 13 weeks later saw my proud changed son, showing obvious glee that he had accomplished a goal he had set. He was now part of a powerful brotherhood, gaining knowledge, respect and love for those around him. When I saw him in Parris Island, I cried, for he had become a man and was so, so enormously proud of him. He was now a United States Marine.

Rory, our only child, was now part of a world that we as parents, and understandably so, required to go through ‘red tape’ to visit him or communicating via phone. Deployment day came and we were there to see a 20-year-old, ‘nothing can hurt me’ relieved happy son, along with his eager brothers, get on a bus for the trip to Afghanistan. During the 7/8 agonizing months a few letters, phone calls and ‘grape vine’, kept us informed/relieved. One such call he says his first day at a patrol base, they received a drive by welcome committee causing him to spill his food. Reports started coming in that they were experiencing severe action in all areas and heard of the first casualty, a Fox Company Staff Sergeant on 2.22.11. Seven more Marines were to fall, including one of Rory’s team leaders and this, coupled with another close brother that received wounds from an IED, they were all family, could have ‘changed’ Rory after seeing the damage it had caused.

Then it was ‘Homecoming’, August 5th. 2011 and there he was, safely home, in our arms with tears of joy, downright relieved. Rented a beach unit for a month, so he and his brothers could relax and have fun. They deserved it. They were excited. Top of the World! Invincible! Heard their horror/funny stories while talking to each other. I was so incredibly happy for all of them. They made it home safely. Rory showed me a bullet hole in a scarf he had around his neck. There appeared to be no change in Rory’s personality, still portraying his jovial, devil may care, respectful side.

Months later we were to learn of the ‘ghosts” of war impacting the minds of these young men. Some were able to ‘work’ at it, while others relieved the stress with booze & pills after finding no help from civilian doctors, who generally prescribe the wrong pills. Compounded also was a ‘code’ of not talking, unless it was to a ‘brother’. Rory tried to shake the demons with prescribe pills, going to the gym, joining Wounded Warriors Battalion after being diagnosed as having PTSD/TBI., learning to be a service dog trainer and having a puppy called Whiskey, after Whiskey Foxtrot Tango.

Everyone in his life, including the Marine Corp, made him have the ‘right stuff’.  Married the one person he had hoped to share all he had, passing on love his mum gave to his dad and vice-a versa, his dad’s sister and husband, his mum’s sisters and husbands and individual close cousins. It was not to be, as the wife made a mockery of the marriage, played around, completely lacking any respect or understanding, although professed her love for him. He spoke to us of his marriage not going to his expectation and you can tell, it was a blow to his self-esteem, added to which was seeing ‘things’ in the Corps that were no longer there before being deployed. Heard talk by other brothers on this subject, which also included higher ranking officers. His normal ebullient self would brush this all off, so we never truly realized the complexity of it all, especially since he kept pushing on.

Word from his Marine brothers, before Afghanistan, confirm without doubt that he was a true honorable Marine and highly respected by his peers. Loved the Corps, his brothers, continued to give and received respect, quick witted.  This was made clear to us by many of his Marine brothers, but later we were to learn that some of his extrovert personality was to diminish as he became more “matured” while on deployment but still retained “motivator mentality.” Some quotes after losing Rory: “I'll always remember your unforgettable sense of humor, you’re caring and courageous personality, and all the crazy shit we did growing up. We've had a lot of great memories together to look back on that make me laugh, smile, and feel thankful to have had a loyal friend like you in my life.”  *** “Lost a good brother” ……. “Rory was an amazing guy and such an awesome friend.”  *** “Rory was filled with optimism and a general sense of purpose and meaning. He often described his aspirations to join the U.S Marine Corps elite MARSOC; he repeatedly stated how he felt grateful for having senior Marines with experience to train him and lead him into combat, unlike other victor units slated to Afghanistan.” *** A high school friend said: “during the times I spent with you I could always tell that you had a warm heart. You had a great charisma and were always able to put a smile on my face. Your death is a great loss and I'm truly saddened to know that I won't be seeing you again in this world.”

While stationed in Afghanistan, a simulated/training fire fight was conducted in a Humvee with 4 Marines. Rory came up with a code-name for the operation – “Funvee”. There was another character instance once back on home soil, where he was made Team Leader, insisting that all new ‘Boot’s’ take the field medic training as he had. One of those Marine’s used what he learned to save another brother in Afghanistan, earning him the Medal of Valor, becoming the youngest Marine to have ever received the medal. *** “You've taught me, Henderson and Brian Johnson everything you could've and gave a shit about us. Even though I hate saying this, but I wish you were still here to haze the fuck out of us. One love brother, we miss the shit out of you. "Dial 'O' for Operator"

Rory could be characterized as having the ability to think/respond quickly and effectively. Quick to smile, always making people laugh, loved, respected by all our friends, his friends, military brothers & sisters, doing something he enjoyed, wonderful, gracious, fun loving, respectful Veteran. America and us lost an outstanding hero, on Sept. 29th. 2013. We miss you in waves and tonight we're drowning. You left us fending for our lives and it feels like you’re the only one who can bring us back to shore alive.