SAN DIEGO - More help is on the way for injured Marines and families of the fallen.
On Friday at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, everyone from the former commandant of the Marine Corps to Rep. Duncan Hunter took part in a golf tournament benefiting the Semper Fi Fund.
At the event, many veterans and service members started talking about what they did in battle.
One vet talked about what he did not do, saying, "I didn't do anything spectacular. Unfortunately, I failed."
Retired Gunnery Sgt. Brian Meyer had a different story.
"I was removing the bomb from the road when it detonated," Meyer explained.
When asked what went through his mind, Meyer said, "What goes through every male's mind when they get blow up. It's like, 'Is my penis still there?'"
Then, he realized the Semper Fi Fund was at his side, like they always are with injured troops and families of the fallen.
The Semper Fi Fund helped pay for Meyer's family to be there during his recovery, made his dog a service dog and outfitted his home and car.
Meyer gave a leg, an arm and part of a hand, and he would have given more. Marines often wish they could do more, like the self-proclaimed failure.
"I completely failed," retired Sgt. Dakota Meyer said. "I'm a complete failure. I completely failed, like I completely failed my teammates."
Sgt. Meyer earned the Medal of Honor for running through enemy fire to save dozens of people and retrieve fallen troops. He is one of our nation's greatest war heroes, but he just wishes he could do more -- so he does, through the Semper Fi Fund.
"Our contract always ends, but our service will continue," Sgt. Meyer added.
The event raised more than $100,000 last year. Thanks to generous donors like Peter Stent and Xplicit Fitness, they hope to raise even more this year.
