Photo By Cpl. Erin Tansey | Pfc. David Bessey (center) stands during his inspection as his rifle is checked to...... read more read more
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MCRD PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- One of today’s graduates began his journey to become a Marine long before he stepped on the Yellow Footprints in December.
At one time, all it took was a flight of stairs to tire out Pfc. David Bessey, with Platoon 2038, Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion. When Bessey first attempted to join the military in November 2009, he said he weighed 307 pounds and was turned away by every recruiter he visited.
“I always wanted to join the military,” said Bessey, of Livonia, Mich. “I wasn’t able to for a while because of my weight.”
A year out of high school, he took up a job that funded a gym membership for him.
“I couldn’t afford a trainer, so I would get people to show me things and research different workouts to do,” he said.
Bessey said he would work out for up to 10 hours a week, and after the first nine months, he had lost 60 pounds.
Once his friend Lance Cpl. Ron Mitchellfoster came home from training, he and Bessey saw a recruiter, and for the first time he was taken seriously and permitted to join the Delayed Entry Program.
The journey to shipping out was not finished. After nine months in the DEP, Bessey lost an additional 40 pounds.
“It was tougher this time,” he said. “I began to back-slide because the weight was harder to lose. My recruiters did not give up on me. They stayed with me when it got difficult.”
After more than a year of working toward his ultimate goal of joining the military, Bessey arrived at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in December with Lima Company, 3rd Recruit
Training Battalion.
His journey to become a Marine was sidetracked when one of his lungs collapsed and he developed pneumonia. The illness removed him from active training for six weeks.
He said thinking about his parents motivated him through training.
“They really wanted to see me graduate,” he said.
In February he picked up with Echo Company on Training Day 4, dropping back nine days in training.
After recovering from pneumonia, Bessey continued pushing himself.
“My main motivation is: I just want to finally make it through,” Bessey said. “I put too much effort in now. I had to fight just to stay in training, and I’ve struggled after coming back to training and getting my strength back up. I’m just really excited to start my tour.”
After more than five months on the depot, Bessey had shed another 30 pounds.
To date, Bessey has lost 130 pounds since he began the life-changing journey to earn the title of Marine. He has completed hikes, grueling obstacle and endurance courses, long runs and the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training during his time on the depot. Those flights of stairs shouldn’t bother him anymore.
| Date Taken: | 05.05.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 05.05.2011 13:46 |
| Story ID: | 69908 |
| Location: | PARRIS ISLAND, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 967 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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