My nephew died at the age of 18. We were all so worried about him joining the marines at the age of 18 especially because when he joined it was shortly after September 11. We got so paranoid we asked him to stay home. He wouldn't have any part of that. He was going to do what he wanted to do when he wanted to do it. I love this man and I knew he was a man when he decided it didn't matter what happened to him as long as he could save some lives. He contracted the flesh eating disease while in basic training in the marines and still wouldn't see a doctor, by the time he went to the doctor within an hour or so he was in a coma he never awoke from. I wish everyone could learn from his mistake, they would realize it doesn't take a hero just someone who's willing to help society be the best they can be and not care who falls out of the line of duty, to make a hero, my nephew is the bravest man I know and there will never be a man as great and as honorable as the little baby I remember being born. He is my hero, always will be and there will never be another who can take his place. He gave all he had and died for all the right reasons, just died from a bad disease with no cure. My hero is the one that gave his life for no reason so that the rest of us could learn from the worst.

Thomas Michael Kinney, you are the only one that could ever give his life so restlessly, and not care who won, well baby boy we finally won the war. I, your aunty Crystal, am proudest of all. Keep your family close and those enemies closer, we will get them someday.