According to a report in the Telegraph, a US marine made a sacrifice that certainly went above and beyond the call of duty. In order to preserve his part of a pair of matching wedding rings, the marine, Lance Corporal David Battle, 19, opted to have his finger amputated after his hand was injured in a grenade attack instead of allowing the field surgeon to cut the wedding ring from his hand.
Wedding Rings – Between Iraq and a Hard Place
Wedding rings are supposed to be a sign of eternal love and US marine, David Battle certainly had a dilemma when it came to deciding whether he wanted to keep his finger or his wedding ring. Ultimately, he instructed the field surgeon to remove the finger and keep the wedding ring. The marine met his wife, Devon, when they were both 13 year old school children and they exchanged wedding rings two weeks before he left for Iraq. When explaining the wedding ring’s sentimental value to him, the marine tells the Telegraph, “My wife is the strongest woman I know. She's 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 soulmate.”
Wedding Rings – Commotion Emotion
Wedding rings are lost in all manner of ways (down plug holes, backs of sofas etc) but not many wedding rings are lost due to grenade attacks and an act of gallantry. Unfortunately for US marine David Battles, this is exactly what happened. Whilst the field surgeon did as he was instructed and amputated the finger to save the wedding ring, it was then lost in the ensuing commotion. So, in spite of the loving gesture, new wedding rings would need to be purchased by the dedicated marine but his wife was just happy he was OK. Devon Battles stated to the Telegraph, “I can't believe he did that. When he first called me I thought he was joking around. At first, I was mad, but then I realised how lucky I am to have him in my life. I'm just grateful that he's still alive.”