Marine sacrifices finger to save wedding ring

[Poll_Blind]

Sunday, December 12, 2004 Posted: 9:57 AM EST (1457 GMT)

Marine sacrifices finger to save wedding ring

VICTORVILLE, California (AP) -- When Marine Lance Cpl. David Battle learned he'd either have to sacrifice his ring finger or the wedding band he wore, he told doctors at a field hospital in Iraq to cut off the finger.

-snip-

Doctors were preparing to cut off Battle's ring to save as much of his finger as they could.

"But that would mean destroying my wedding ring," he said. "My wife is the strongest woman I know. She's basically running two people's lives since I've been gone. I don't think I could ever repay her or show her how grateful ... how much I love my wife, my soul mate."

With his approval, doctors severed his finger, but somehow in the chaos that followed, they lost his ring.

-snip-

Commentary: Does it make me a bastard to say that in the same situation I'd have the ring cut off? In my opinion, the ring is the least meaninful symbol of my marriage- it's the love, the time I take to let my woman know I love her and the burdens we shoulder together that I consider the important part. To each his own, of course.

PB

[trotsky]

1. The ring is only a symbol.

Much like the flag is a symbol. To burn a flag does nothing to destroy what it stands for (America), just as to cut a ring would do nothing to destroy his love for his wife or their marriage.

I'm sorry, I don't get it either.

[Poll_Blind]

3. I didn't want to go reaching for metaphor but as soon as I read...

...the article, somehow it seemed to remind me of the mindset of some of the people in this country...to put so much stock in symbols that the things they represent might be lost.

PB

[goddess40]

71. I wish more people like you could get it too

I'm sorry but he's a fool to have his finger cut off to save a ring - his priorities are screwed up.

My finger reacted to the metal in the ring and I had to have it cut off-the ring not the finger. Didn't even cross my mind to have my finger cut off.

[NEOBuckeye]

2. It's a nice romantic gesture...

But really, you can always get another ring.

Cloning fingers is still in the works, however.

[tabasco]

4. Doctors should not give that choice.

They violated their oath if this is true. If there was a chance to save the finger, that is what they should have done.

[AP]

26. I agree. Cut the ring off and let him sue you for the damages.

I'd sacrific a $300 claim against my insurance company in order to save the guy's finger.

This is definitely a situation where you'd risk getting sued after not following the instructions of your patient.

[Mojambo]

59. It's his finger

I'm pro-choice in this matter.

[shanti]

this story

doesn't pass the smell test....

[shanti]

85. dupe

delete

[Bouncy Ball]

90. I totally agree.

What happened to the oath doctors take? "First, do no harm...." I'm horrified that was even given as a choice. I mean to surgically remove a finger is FAR more complicated than cutting off a ring, for crying out loud!

[madaboutharry]

5. I don't get this either

The ring is a piece of jewlery. It is an object. It is the least meaningful thing in a marriage. This story sounds strange to me.

[Deja Q]

40. See post 39. Then it'll make sense.

:-(

[LiberalFighter]

54. Wouldn't that be along the line of worshiping another god?

[aikido15]

83. I'm sure this is somehow supposed....

to impress me, however, I find it very stupid to cut off one's finger to save a ring. I've heard of cutting off a ring to save a finger...boy is he gonna feel dumb if he gets a divorce. (He should feel dumb NOW!):dunce:

[Inland]

6. Geez, I was ready to cut my ring off when I got fat and needed it resized

Maybe if you are injured in Iraq and your wife is left alone to raise kids without the help of your government, you grasp at the symbols.

[xultar]

7. OK Can't the ring be fixed? I don't get it. It is a nice jesture, but

will the loss of a finger get him to go home?

[Inland]

9. Aha! You beat me to the cynical point by seconds!

[KenCarson]

38. yep....fixing a ring is easy....and cheap too NT

Z...

[yankeeinlouisiana]

77. Nah, your index finger is

your trigger finger. He can still shoot a gun.

Nice sentiment, but I'd cut the ring.

[Inland]

8. Second thought--would being without a finger be a ticket home?

Now I'm the bastard.

[amazona]

12. I doubt it

I don't see how the loss of one finger is going to get him sent home when they are returning other amputees to Iraq, or is that just a rumor?

I suppose he could have imagined it would work though.

[genieroze]

35. Nope it's true

Military Amputees to Get New Rehab Center


Friday November 19, 2004 10:01 PM

AP Photo WX102

By SAM HANANEL

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - A state-of-the-art rehabilitation center opening next year at Walter Reed Army Medical Center seeks to return more amputee soldiers to a place once thought impossible: the battlefield.

Besides treadmills and stationary bikes, the $10 million Military Amputee Training Center will have weapons simulators, a climbing and rappelling wall and military vehicle simulators to help soldiers adapt their prosthetics to driving tanks and trucks.

``Our guys and gals, they don't want to just walk household distances, they want to be able to return to running, they want to be able to return to duty,'' Lt. Col. Jeff Gambel, clinical chief of the amputee clinic, said Friday at a groundbreaking ceremony. ``And if they don't return to duty, they want to be able to rock climb and do all those other things.''

The center brings together new and existing facilities and counseling services for amputees in a single 30,000-square-foot, three-story addition to the hospital.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-4626234,00.html

[jayctravis]

68. Not the ring finger...

Long as he has his trigger finger.

I remember reading A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY and I don't remember which finger it was that they cut off to keep someone from being drafted.

[Poll_Blind]

14. I don't think so. I'm not sure even the loss of an arm would be...

Here's why, after rehabilitation he could still perform most tasks required of a soldier, sans combat duty. If we're bringing 70 year olds into Iraq (as witnessed by another LBN article) and working on creating new and better prosthetic limbs for soldiers who have lost limbs in battle so they may return to battle sooner,(from an article I never copied the link of, was on CNN), then I can't imagine that missing a finger, hand or even arm is a ticket back home in today's military.

PB

[Inland]

17. Getting out of combat alone not helpful

Supposed he is reassigned to a transport duty? Those guys are dying in the same rates as combat troops.

[AP]

29. Or they'll give him the suicide mission: guarding ballot boxes on election

day.

[Khephra]

20. It used to be

My grandfather was in WW2 and was discharged because he had a finger shot off.

Today? They'd probably put a bandage on it and tell you to get back to combat.

[Nevernose]

10. Can't a jeweler just solder the ring back together?

Maybe this guy was in a lot of pain and not thinking too clearly.

[amazona]

11. for the love of Pete

They should have just cut off the ring and ignored the perhaps drug-addled patient's silly request. Is there no Hippocratic Oath any longer? You do not disfigure a man to save a piece of gold. A wedding ring can be replaced. If my partner gave up a finger to save a bit of metal, I'd be royally P.O.ed.

Anyway, if they had saved the cut-off ring, he could have had his jeweler make a new ring that incorporated the old gold if it was that important to him.

Now he's out both the finger and the ring.

[dogtag]

13. This sounds like a 'who is dumber' contest...

the soldier or the doctors? Why would the doctors even ask such a stupid question? The doctors win, I'm afraid. They really should know better.

[asjr]

15. Will he get a medal from Shrub for doing that? Did it prove

the sanctity of his marriage?

[Solly Mack]

16. That ring would be history

Why didn't he wear his ring on a chain around his neck? or in his pocket? or left it at home?

Good gracious...soldiers/marines are supposed to remove their rings when in combat or even during FTX's.

[snippy]

18. He is only 19 years old and married six months to 8th grade sweetheart

so it is hard to say whether this was foolish or stupid. If the finger could be saved the doctors were wrong to cut it off. This makes me wonder about the truthfulness of the story.

[TahitiNut]

47. I don't care how old or how long married ... he's an idiot married to ...

... a disaster of a wife. I've heard of "high maintenance" but this is beyond insane. There must be an upper limit of about 80 on the IQ allowed in the Marine Corps these days.

[booksenkatz]

19. Ah, yes, fighting and sacrificing for symbols, like a good soldier

Sadly for me, I dwell in ugly reality and am far too pragmatic for my own good. Were I forced to choose between my wedding ring and my ring finger, I'd want to save my ring finger, because I can do far more good for my husband and my family when my body is in good working order. I work faster with 10 fingers than with 9.

I've never been much into symbols anyway.

[Sabriel]

21. "Don't wreck my pants! It's my favorite pair!"

"Take off the foot, instead." Sheesh. And the poster above is spot on: it's a symptom of allegiance to symbols, rather than rational thought.

[Sporadicus]

22. I Have Never Worn My Wedding Band Outside 'Formal' Occasions

and I sure as hell don't wear it to work. I perform a lot of my own preparation on the samples I test, and I don't want to get a ring caught in rotating machinery. When a ring gets pulled with mechanical force, it can easily pull the skin right off the finger; I've seen a few of these injuries, and I want no part of them.

I agree with earlier posters' assessments: this incident is a metaphor for the repugs placing more value on symbols than substance. In addition, I'm suspicious of the story in its entirety, coming from CNN as it does. The military has cut stories out of whole cloth in the past, and this one stinks to me. Some pentagon PR flack may have dreamed up this story, imagining it to be heroic, patriotic & indicative of spousal devotion all at once. The PR flack envisions a sheeplike populace lapping up this stuff, and they probably will. I'd like to see some independent confirmation of this story before I believe a word of it. CNN et al have zero credibility with me - which is what they deserve for serving as polly-parrots for the * administration.

[proud2BlibKansan]

43. Agreed

I don't believe it either.

But then when half of the people in this country believe there were WMDs in Iraq, it's not surprising that the media shoves unbelievable stories like this at us.

[BlueJazz]

23. This story sounds like bullshit or the people involved were idiots.

I mean, Good Grief, get a pair of wire cutters, cut the ring on the underside (if necessary), save the finger, have a qualified Jeweler
match the gold, solder the ring back together, buff and shine the ring (A good Jeweler can make the cut undetectable) and everybody's happy.

What the Fuck is the Big Deal??

[IowaGuy]

55. This story smells fishy..

the Hippocratic oath requires a doctor "to do no harm". Hard to see how one could justify cutting a finger off to save a piece of jewelry from being damaged and still be true to that oath. Maybe it happened, but it certainly sounds implausible....

[SheilaT]

24. Rings can be fixed.

What an idiot, especially since the doctors managed to lose the ring.

Of course, given the kid was only 19, it's somewhat more understandable he'd make such a foolish decision.

[mark414]

51. ah yes

he's only 19 so he MUST be an idiot

stupidity doesn't discriminate by age

[SheilaT]

53. I don't mean to assume

that just because he's 19 he must be an idiot.

You're right, stupidity does not discriminate by age. It's just that learning he's 19 and married his 8th grade sweetheart only six months ago puts a human face on it and makes his (in my opinion stupid) decision a little more understandable.

I made lots of dumb decisions when I was younger that I wouldn't have made with a little more experience under my belt.

Did not mean to insult all young people.

[makhno]

25. I don't put much stock in this story

Sounds like a feel good human interest propaganda ditty to me. Put a cheerful face on the casualties of war and all that. I doubt emergency surgeons go about giving heavily sedated patients these kinds of choices on the operating table.

[Lefta Dissenter]

27. see

not only is bush becoming more like Saddam every day, but now his doctors are becoming more like Saddam's doctors! Unbelievable! Next thing you know, the guy will be in the oval office, showing his new replacement finger off to bush!

I wear a ring that had been my mom's, and had to have it cut down before I could wear it. You can't even tell where the piece was taken out and the ring put back together!

DUMBDUMBDUMBDUMB... :eyes:

[VivaKerry]

28. Meanwhile... his wife will probably be so grossed out......

that she will leave him!

Kind of a reverse hair comb christmas story!

[DebJ]

30. After cutting the ring off, it could have been put back together, I'm

sure... this story sounds like a crock to me.

My mother, with ageing over 50 years, has had her wedding ring enlarged two full sizes...they just add a bit more metal to it and heat it together, basically.

[proud2BlibKansan]

44. I have been married 30 years

and have had my ring resized so many times I can't count.

This is a really stupid - and highly doubtful - story.

[whatelseisnew]

31. Now he doesn't have the symbolic finger

to put his symbol on.

[DebJ]

45. that's the best point yet!

[Flammable Materials]

32. This is fucked up and mental.

This makes no more sense than the people in North Korea who let people die but saved pictures of Kim Jong Il.

I know people get sentimental, but damn.

[demnan]

33. I would have felt horrible if this were my husband

If she loves him then his well being and ability to remain whole is a hell of a lot more important to her than is the ring. On the other hand, to him the ring might be a more important symbol of her love.

What I want to know is, how did the bastards low the ring?

[Gyre]

34. Two words.

Dumb kid. :thumbsdown:

Gyre

[Cornjob]

36. Please don't ever let those doctors treat me!

The story sounds like a fable.

I cannot believe that any licensed physician would even consider permitting the removal of a body part to save a piece of jewelry.

If they did what is claimed, they should lose their medical practice licenses!

[Astrochimp]

41. I'm callin BS too- a woman at work got her hand......

caught in a machine, and smashed her ring, there was NO question, it was cut off in the ambulance, and was repaired the next day.

She was not supposed to wear a ring, not supposed to have mach on while cleaning it up, and had got caught in it before, also only bruised her hand- mach is much like a ringer washer, only 5" thick, 4'wide rollers weighing 100#'s

When my wife got her ring resized, IIRC it cost $20- its a white gold 30's ring, and you can not see any repair.

David

[Algorem]

37. in a related story,

his wife's boinking the mailman

[Deja Q]

39. Just a byproduct of a society that prioritizes property over people, there

is nothing to see here, move along.

[fortyfeetunder]

48. Darwin time....

Toad you got that right...
This is a mini-Darwin award candidate!

[Endangered Specie]

82. Honorable mentions...

are cases where its Darwin grade stupiduty but non, or close to Darwin results.

[Enraged_Ape]

42. Isn't this precisely why God commanded against "graven images"?

Because of the human proclivity to mistake that which is transient and material for that which is eternal and spiritual?


What an idiot. He cheapens his marriage by placing so much of its power in a small piece of metal.

[hickman1937]

46. I have a horrible feeling

There's a country song coming up real soon ripped from this headline. Whats that guys name that did that butterfly kisses song?

[fortyfeetunder]

49. Good thing it was only a finger!

Use your imagination.....

[DulceDecorum]

67. Beat it

I mean, beat me to it.

Now that he does not have the finger,
WHERE is he going to put the ring?
And couldn't anyone in that place see that
the ring was going to come off any way you cut it?

Anyway,
since you are in need of an uplifting story,
here is one.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1074745161260&p=1006688055060

[livinbella]

50. He wasn't using that finger anyway!

What a crazy choice.

[Bluebear]

52. What a beautiful story!!!! Crying here.

/sarcasm off

HelLO??? What kind of medical care is that?

[Skittles]

92. DAMN BLUEBEAR I was fixing to KICK YOUR ASS

I tell you if I was married to that moron I certainly would kick HIS ass - and HIS DOCTOR'S, TOO.

[Dem12345]

56. Jeez

I think the doctor should get beat for what he did.

But, this man is risking his life and getting injured, let him do what he wants without bashing him. If the story is true...

[yorkiemommie1]

57. what with the divorce rate in this country

i hope this marriage has more than a (now missing) piece of jewelry to hold it together. let's hope so.

[LiviaOlivia]

58. Kick

[JVS]

60. Rings can be fixed

people cut and enlarge rings all the time

[muriel_volestrangler]

61. PR from the US psych-ops people?

Note this bit:
"Doctors were preparing to cut off Battle's ring to save as much of his finger as they could."

But the headline is "Marine sacrifices finger".

Or did he just sacrifice one joint? Or even the possibility of one joint?

Just another exaggeration from the people who brought you "Tillman and Lynch" (surely the next cop show to hit your screens?)

[TankLV]

62. The guy's a simpleton.

Not quite an idiot due to the "romantic" angle involved, but thoughtless and not very bright.

It's not as if his choices were either cut the ring off and rhrow it away or cut the finger!

Even if the ring was "cut" - any jewler could either repair it, or it could be melted down and reformed into a BETTER ring than the one he had.

God some people just don't think.

[rockydem]

63. fuck the ring I'd take the finger

body parts are irreplacable - a wedding band is - faithfulness in love does not require a wedding band....

[thecrow]

64. Now his wife can call him and idiot on two accounts

What did you do to your finger?
Ah, the wedding ring.... I see!
Wait... where's the ring again?
Idiot! Idiot!
Smacks him upside the head....

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

65. PSYOPS...PSYOPS...PSYOPS...PSYOPS...people, don't be gullable

This AP story has US PsyOps written ALL OVER IT.

Remember, we're now talking about this bullshit story and NOT HOW THE TROOPS ARE STARTING TO QUESTION the military leadership.

...sleepy, sleepy, you are becoming very sleepy...

JB

[Spider Jerusalem]

66. There's a typo in the headline...it's spelt "MORON"...

[doc03]

69. They don't call them Jar-heads for nothing!

His wife is probably screwing Jody's brains out while he's in Iraq.

[Bouncy Ball]

91. I haven't heard the name "Jody" in a while

thanks for the memories! LOL!

[doc03]

93. Remember the DI's always saying forget about your girl friend back

home Jody is taking care of her now!

[Bouncy Ball]

94. Actually I was the wife

of a vet who used to tease me before he'd go to the field by saying "Now don't be having Jody over while I'm gone!"

He's been out of the Army for a long time and I hadn't thought about that in ages. Your mention of it made me laugh. I'm going to ask him if he remembers saying that all those years ago, bet he'll laugh too.

"Jody." LOL! The Mythical Screwing All the GI's Wives and Girlfriends Jody. Man he got around!

[doc03]

96. There's a Jody down the road from me, he may be the one they are

talking about. A regular Brad Pitt look-alike.

[Mike Niendorff]

70. Can't help but wonder:

Does the loss of a finger make it less likely that he'll get sent back into combat duty in Iraq?

Just sayin' ...


MDN

[daleo]

72. This seems rather unbelievable.

It is hard to believe anyone could seriously take this attitude. The only caveat is that his finger may have been so mangled that it really didn't matter, and the story is holding that back in order to pump up the hero quotient.

[Just Me]

73. No. You're not a bastard by chosing to have the ring cut off.

The ring was merely a material symbol. That "material" could not possibly dictate a person's love or respect or loyalty.

I agree,..."to each his own".

BUT, this brings a memory of a Holocaust survivor who shared his personal story where he had to choose between his wedding ring and his life. Wisely, he chose his life. And let me tell you,...I am glad he did because,...I will never, ever forget him. He had an aura,...he was a proof that the human spirit is an amazing spectacle. Moveover, I know that his heart is heavy at what the Busholinis are doing,...I am absolutely certain that he is very much involved in opposing the neoCONfascist imperialists.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

74. Doctors are not obligated to do every lame brained thing the patient

requests, especially patients who are likely to be under the influence of pain meds etc.

[Skittles]

75. I would be pissed if I was his wife

incredibly stupid and I find it hard to believe doctors would go along with this

[Starlight]

76. Sounds like BS n/t

[despairing optimist]

78. Who's his wife? Bernie Kerik's nanny?

File this under How Stupid Can You Be?

[Dr Fate]

79. I suppose we are all symbol minded people.

n/t

[Endangered Specie]

80. The kid obviosly wasnt thinking right...

I mean, 1 less finger = a wife who will be 10% less 'pleased', if you know what I mean. and Im pretty sure the extra volume of the ring adds another 2 or 3%. :evilgrin:

[VegasWolf]

81. Just amazing! Story can't be real. No one would do that. n/t

[American Tragedy]

84. I call bullshit on this

First of all, I find it somewhat hard to believe that any sane individual would sacrifice a finger in order to save an obviously reparable and replaceable gold ring. It is irrational and bordering on psychotic. Even if he did indeed ask for this, I find it extremely hard to believe that any physician would sever a digit in order to salvage jewelry, even at the patient's insistance.

Serving in a field hospital, they would be more likely to presume that the patient was not of sound mind. Perhaps this would be due to the effects of drugs and anaesthesia, perhaps from post-traumatic stress disorder, which is pervasive in modern warfare. In any case, they would immediately confer with mental health specialists who would likely draw the same conclusion I just did.

The name even kind of sounds like something from a Cold War propaganda newsreel. David Battle?

[okieinpain]

86. I guess he would really be confused if she left him because she

was lonely. I'm feel for the guy, but that is really kind of wild.

[American Tragedy]

87. I'm giving this poor fool a kick

:kick:

[Zerex71]

88. I agree with you 100%.

You can always buy a replacement ring. But then again, remember that you're dealing here with macho mentality...that whole hero-slays-the-dragon thing, of being "needlessly tough" in situations like that. I'm sure if his wife is any kind of real woman, she'd understand that a ring is temporary but a finger is permanent.

Mike

[Bouncy Ball]

89. I would KICK my husband's

ever-loving ASS if he said to cut off his finger instead of the ring. The RING can be replaced the finger can't.

I'm sorry, but that guy is a total and complete dipshit.

[Megahurtz]

95. This is nuts

it's only a ring, they can get another one, and he never got the ring back anyway.

Notice how perfect a soldier this guy makes for the Bush ranks?