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Nov 11, 2009 8:16 pm US/Eastern
Military Service A Tradition For Armstrong Co. Man
RIMERSBURG (KDKA) ―
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"This is my life, my future. I wish I could be a Marine forever, I really do. But one day I won't," Don Kimball said.
KDKA
For Don Kimball, the soft bleating of his goats is about the only sound disturbing the peace on his Mt. Airy Road farm in Rimersburg.
"This is my life, my future. I wish I could be a Marine forever, I really do. But one day I won't," he said.
While calling to his cattle, Don will tell you that life on his 151 acres of Armstrong County countryside is reinforced by what he does in uniform.
"This is worth protecting. This is worth doing what I do, not just for me, but for everybody, everybody out there is America," he said.
Marines are men of deeds - not words. But ask Don about the woman he married, Jessica Mesing, a fellow Marine and now a state trooper and words can't come fast enough.
"And I want her to know I love her deeply, and I'm a grateful man and a very lucky man to have an outstanding woman like that," he said.
Don's love of country is the only thing that might rival those feelings.
Not that long ago, the 32-year-old farmer was caught up in the chaos of war, serving three tours of duty in Iraq.
Gunnery Sgt. Donald Kimball III earned the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor as well as other commendations. He has helped bring humanitarian aid to the Caribbean and Liberia.
Military service has been a big part of the Kimball family business dating back to the Revolutionary War. The mission is simple.
"To not let anyone down, to continue a tradition of doing the right thing," he said.
After farm chores, a 45-minute drive brings Sgt. Kimball to the Marine Recruiting Sub-Station in Butler.
He says the young people who walk through his door know what they want.
"Patriots still exist. The young men and women I've seen the last three years - they're coming to serve their country. They're coming to be Marines," he said.
And on this Veterans Day, Sgt. Kimball believes that the men and women who fight for freedom are a national treasure.
"I can't come upon somebody who's served their country in the past, and just not be awed at the sacrifices that they made before me - and I hope that the little I do equals at least to what they've done."
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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