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Matias Ferreira, a former active duty Marine who was retired after being injured by an improvised explosive device, was acknowledged by Gen. Robert B. Neller , commandant of the Marine Corps, for exemplifying the values and Ethos of the Marine Corps.
Ferreira joined the Marines in May 2009, a year after graduating from Morrow High School in Atlanta. After completing training, Ferreira was assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Two years later, Ferreira was leading a night operation as a machine gunner in the Helmand province of Afghanistan in 2011. Ferreira was told to set up the equipment on the roof of the building. However, a strong feeling kept him from taking his gear off immediately.
“I don’t know what it was,” Ferreira said, speaking of the night he was injured. “Everything just felt wrong. No one was out. It was dead silence.”
That silence was shattered when Ferreira stepped from the roof, setting off a hidden explosive. The blast caused severe damage to both his legs, causing him to lose them below the knee.
Ferreira was medically retired from the Marine Corps in 2012, but refused to let his injuries hold him back from pursuing life. Over the course of several surgeries and therapy, Ferreira not only learned to walk again, but also run and complete several marathons. He once even rescued a baby from a burning car.
Most recently, he overcame the immense personal challenge of graduating from the Suffolk County Police Academy, and donned the uniform as a Suffolk County police officer.
It was this final accomplishment that garnered attention from Neller, the Marine Corps’ highest ranking officer, who wanted to recognize Ferreira for his outstanding and continued service to his country and community.
In the citation, Neller wrote “the sacrifices made and commitment displayed by Ferreira during his time as a Marine and since leaving the active ranks exemplified the values and ethos of the Marne Corps.”
Ferreira said while he was “very honored to receive the award,” he didn’t do it for the recognition.
“I feel I was born to serve,” Ferreira said. “If I see an injustice or someone needing help, I have to help.”
| Date Taken: | 03.24.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 06.01.2017 11:28 |
| Story ID: | 228635 |
| Location: | BRENTWOOD, NY, US |
| Hometown: | ATLANTA, GA, US |
| Hometown: | WANTAGH, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 10 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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