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Father of Marine killed in Iraq shares loss, pride in McDonald
By SEAN BARRON
MCDONALD
Most people equate Memorial Day with honoring those who fought for America and its freedoms, but David C. Gettings relates to the holiday on a deeper, more personal level.
A large part of that began several years ago with a knock on the door that changed his life forever.
“Four Marines appeared at our door saying our son was killed in small-arms fire,” Gettings told a gathering of a few dozen who attended Sunday’s annual Memorial Day ceremony in Woodland Park here.
Gettings, the Lawrence County, Pa., controller, was guest speaker for the somber 45-minute program to honor and remember military personnel killed while serving their country. Also recognized were those in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Gettings focused his presentation on his late son, Cpl. Albert P. Gettings, a Marine who died Jan. 5, 2006, at age 27 in North Fallujah, Iraq, while performing counter-sniper operations. He had about five months left of his tour of duty.
The younger Gettings was very upset after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and wanted to enlist in the military to make a difference, his father recalled.
After having worked about two years in a supply depot, Albert Gettings was one of nine Marines who qualified for a special assignment that lasted about six months in Kabul, Afghanistan. Later, he went to Fallujah, which was unstable and dangerous, Gettings explained.
Despite the danger and Albert Gettings’ reassurances to his father and mother, Julie, that all was well, he was shot to death a short time later by a member of Al-Qaida in an ambush, David Gettings noted.
“When you have a tragedy, you re-evaluate what you’re doing and what’s important,” Gettings said, adding that his son posthumously received a Bronze Star for his efforts to prevent fellow comrades from being killed in the ambush.
Gettings remembered his son as tenacious and one who wanted to make a positive difference for his country. The harder someone tried to convince Albert Gettings he couldn’t do something, the more determined he was to prove that person wrong, the elder Gettings said.
“If you surprise someone and tell them what they’re capable of, you get amazing behavior,” he added.
Roughly 1 million military personnel have been killed in wars since 1975, said village fire Chief Nick Kish, who spoke before Gettings.
Kish choked up at times as he implored his audience to remember more than once a year those “who stood for the causes of democracy, decency and patriotism.”
The ceremony also featured remarks by Mayor Glenn W. Holmes, who read the names and narratives of each of the 19 village residents who died serving their country. A flag was placed next to a memorial for each name read.
“Freedom is not a gift, but an earned benefit paid for by the blood of our heroes,” Holmes said.
Placing a wreath nearby was Ron Pratt, a Marine who earned several awards and medals for his service. Pratt also is a police officer and a 1987 McDonald High School graduate.