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Former Marine Dedicates Bout To Fallen Comrade

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By EDDIE DANIELS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 11, 2007

TAMPA - There are 11 names that will forever be etched into the memory of Will Thiery.

James "Spar" Lumpkins, Frank Allen, Stephen Bentzlin, Ismael Cotto, Thomas Jenkins, Michael Linderman Jr., Garett Mongrella, Scott Schroeder, David Snyder, Dion Stephenson and Daniel Walker.

Each were Marines, as was Thiery.

Each were near the Kuwait city of Khafji on Jan. 29, 1991 - as was Thiery. That day, during the first major ground engagement of the first Gulf war, those 11 - including Thiery's best friend, Lumpkins - were fatally injured after their LAV-25 (light armored vehicle) was attacked while supporting fellow troops. By some accounts, including the book "Storm on the Horizon," the soldiers were hit by friendly fire from air support.

During the attack, Thiery, who manned a 50-caliber gun mounted on top of his First SRIG (Surveillance Reconnaissance Intelligence Group)/First RECON Battalion Humvee, was blown from his vehicle and landed on his head. Among the injuries he suffered were a compressed spine and torn ACLs in both knees; he was in a coma for six weeks.

"I lost part of my heart and soul and I left it there in the first Gulf War," Thiery said, "because my buddy didn't make it back."

For 18 months, Thiery was paralyzed from the waist down, but toward the end of that stint, doctors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington noticed his spine was back to normal. Thiery admits he was mentally beaten and down, which likely had an affect on his recovery.

That wasn't enough for a nurse named Edith, who challenged him. During a pool session, she dumped Thiery into the pool - wheelchair and all.

Following a few choice words after he released himself from the chair and reached the surface, Thiery screamed: "I moved my toes!"

Today, Thiery, 38, will find himself at the St. Pete Times Forum competing in the Salute To Our Armed Forces Mixed Martial Arts event, organized by Alessi Promotions and Xtreme Fighting Championships, in conjunction with Veterans Day. The first bout begins at 5:15 p.m., but events will take place in the plaza starting at noon.

It's Thiery's way to support those who fought before, during and after his stint in the U.S. military.

"When I contacted Will and was negotiating the contract, he refused to take a purse," said John Prisco, the XFC's president and lead promoter for Alessi Promotions. "He said he was dedicating this fight to his buddy and to the Marine Corps. We hear stories like that often from these guys. These guys are very selfless. It's never about them. It's about their friends and their buddies."

In addition to paratroopers rappelling into the cage, there will be a sworn oath of enlistment. Keith and Carolyn Maupin, parents of Army Reserve Spc. Keith "Matt" Maupin, abducted April 9, 2004, in Iraq, also will be in attendance. Matt Maupin was one of nine Americans who disappeared following the ambush of a convoy west of Baghdad. Bodies of five of the hostages were found, while the others remain missing.

"Who I am today is because of the people and the experiences and that's why me giving what I'm going to give to this fight and to some future fights, it's giving back," Thiery said. "I don't want pay from any of this.

"Getting to where I am today, was purely by a lot of caring people."

Tickets can be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet or by phone at (813) 287-8844 or (727) 898-2100. Tickets start at $25. For more information, go to saluteourarmedforces.com.

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214 or edaniels@tampatrib.com.

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