Several years ago I came across a story regarding the father of two warriors; one a Marine and the other a Soldier. As a retired Marine and father of three sons myself, Jim's story hit home hard. Jim Spiri is a combat photographer who can't stay away from the fight. Jim has recently returned from Afghanistan where he took photos, recorded live audio, and wrote down his accounts. His story is being told by our friends at Ranger Up on their blog site the Rhino Den.

Before returning Jim spent the last leg of his journey with the combat proven Marines and Corpsmen, the 2/6 Spartans whom he last saw in Fallujah, Iraq in 2007. Jim was with Marines on patrol when they came under attack, his audio from the firefight is posted in the Rhino Den.

More about Jim and why he’s such a hero in my eyes. Jim is the father of Second Lieutenant Jesse James Spiri who died of brain cancer in 2001 just 56 days after he was commissioned. Our Tricare system at the time didn’t cover his medical expenses because of a loophole. To his great credit, Jim Spiri successfully lead the charge to correct this disgrace and in 2003 Congress passed, “The 2ndLt Jesse James Spiri, Military Medical Coverage Act” which corrected the bureaucratic travesty. Jim is blessed with a second son, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jimmy Spiri, who is an Army pilot with 5 combat deployments. I can't say enough about how much I respect the sacrifices of the Spiri family, their service, and their love for our country.

Pictured below is Jim Spiri and the Camaro Jim drives each July, a memorial to his Marine son Second Lieutenant Jesse Spiri. The second picture is Jim with his Soldier son, combat pilot Chief Warrant Officer 3 Spiri and his three grandsons. Jim's story is told on the Ranger Up blog the Rhino Den, which explains Jim's motivation and his current journey to Afghanistan.

I stole Nick's cheesy press photo above because I could. But these Ranger Up T-shirts are yet another good reason to visit their Rhino Den.