{"id":3931,"date":"2019-05-16T21:01:27","date_gmt":"2019-05-16T12:01:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nedforney.com\/?p=3931"},"modified":"2019-05-17T22:03:12","modified_gmt":"2019-05-17T13:03:12","slug":"conor-mcdowell-usmc-armed-forces-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nedforney.com\/index.php\/2019\/05\/16\/conor-mcdowell-usmc-armed-forces-day\/","title":{"rendered":"So Much Life Ahead of Him"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Light\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t

As we salute our brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces this weekend, we\u2019re reminded that over 2 million current service members are stationed at military bases throughout the US and more than 160 countries on all seven continents.<\/p>\n

And they have one of the toughest jobs around.<\/p>\n

They endure long hours, stressful environments, separation from family and friends, and constant training . . . hard, demanding, and realistic training. Training that, even when the highest standards of safety are met, can result in an accident.<\/p>\n

Preparing for a war they hope will never come, our young men and women in uniform push themselves to the limits of physical and mental endurance, ensuring that if called upon to fight, they\u2019ll be the strongest, smartest, and best trained warriors in the world.<\/p>\n

But their high state of preparedness comes at a heavy price.<\/p>\n

A Warrior And Leader<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Lt.

Lt. Conor McDowell, USMC (PC: Conor McDowell FB page)<\/p><\/div>\n

For twenty-four-year-old Hugh Conor McDowell, a 1st Lieutenant with 1st Light Armored\u00a0Reconnaissance Battalion (LAR), 1st Marine Division, at Camp Pendleton, California, the price was his life. The hard-charging graduate of The Citadel<\/a>, The Military College of South Carolina (Class of 2017), died last week when his eight-wheeled, 13-ton armored vehicle rolled over during a training exercise, crushing him and injuring six other Marines. Conor, as he was known by his parents and friends, died en route to the hospital.<\/p>\n

The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Michael McDowell, Conor had dreamed of being a Marine since childhood, his father, a Belfast-born journalist and key player in the Northern Ireland peace process in the 1990\u2019s, told reporters.<\/p>\n

\u201cConor was a warrior, like my father in the Royal Ulster Rifles in the Western Desert, Sicily, and Italy in World War Two,\u201d his father said<\/a>. Conor\u2019s girlfriend and soon-to-be fianc\u00e9, Kathleen Bourque, added, \u201cHe was such a light in this world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"onor

Conor McDowell with his girlfriend, Kathleen Bourque (PC: Conor McDowell FB page)<\/p><\/div>\n

The Great American Team<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The tragic death of Conor McDowell, a young man who wanted to serve his country and, if called upon, lead Marines into combat, reminds us that dedicated, hard-working, and selfless men and women from across America and from every race, religion, and background, come together as a team to ensure our way of life is protected.<\/p>\n

Lt. McDowell\u2019s death also reminds us that there are those who, because of training accidents or combat<\/a>, will never have the opportunity to marry, have children, take vacations, achieve their dreams, or grow old. Instead, they leave behind grieving families, friends, and fellow service members who will always remember them as bright-eyed, youthful, and enthusiastic sons, daughters, and teammates.<\/p>\n

To all our men and women in uniform and their families on Armed Forces Day<\/a>, we salute you! Your service and sacrifices are honored and appreciated.<\/p>\n

Postscript<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As a Citadel graduate, Marine veteran, and former 1st Lieutenant with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, I send my condolences to Conor McDowell’s family, fianc\u00e9, and friends. I also thank them for giving him the support and love he needed to make it through four tough years at The Citadel; complete Officer Candidates School, The Basic School, and LAR training; and achieve his dream of becoming a Marine.<\/p>\n

“There is a massive hole in our hearts and there will be for the rest of our lives. He was our only beloved child, in whom we were well pleased. We hope to meet again with our son in some way at some time as we pass on, as he has, at so young an age, and with so much of life ahead of him.\u201d – Michael McDowell<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Lt.\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\tLt. McDowell, with his father, Michael McDowell, and mother, Susan Flanigan, at The Citadel. (PC: Conor McDowell FB page)\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"McDowell\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\tMcDowell during a training exercise (PC: Conor McDowell FG page)\n\t

Top\/feature picture<\/strong>:\u00a0Light Armored Vehicle in the California desert (PC: US Marine Corps)<\/p>\n\t