Aiding wounded soldiers

Lolita Harper

Four words printed on a banner on the side of the Arches spell out

more than just a catch phrase for the restaurant’s owner. They define

a way of life.

“We support our troops.”

The sentence, framed by pictures of the American and Marine Corps

flags, greet each patron of Danny Marcheano’s historic diner as they

pull into the parking lot.

For Marcheano, the definition of that phase is tangibly defined by

the heaps of books, puzzles and board games he collected to donate to

servicemen and servicewomen recovering from war injuries.

“It is important because there are people out there who think they

can’t do anything to help,” Marcheano said. “But they can, you know;

it’s right here in the neighborhood.”

Last week, Master Sgt. William Bonney, of the 1st Marine Division

at Camp Pendleton, picked up two truckloads of donated items to

distribute to soldiers, sailors and Marines at the Camp Pendleton

base hospital and the Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego.

Marcheano and fellow retired Marine George Tepich organized the

drive to make sure that the servicemen and servicewomen were taken

care of after their tour of duty. Tepich, who speaks in a gruff,

stern voice, and Marcheano, who talks with a New Jersey accent,

present tough-guy personas, bolstered by their respective stories of

combat.

But when the subject of supporting America’s troops comes up, the

look in their eyes softens, and they speak in a no-nonsense tone.

“Some of these kids are so badly beaten up,” Tepich said. “You

just wouldn’t believe it. You wouldn’t make it through a tour of that

hospital without a tear in your eye.”

They are too old to be deployed, but Marcheano and Tepich refuse

to stop fighting. In addition to collecting the books and games for

Marines, they have joined an effort to build up the Injured Marine

Semper Fi Fund, created to fill the gap of services between active

duty and veteran benefits.

Karen Guenther, the president of the fund, works as a nurse at the

Pendleton hospital and witnesses the recovery process firsthand.

“I saw these Marines as they first came in, and I think my life

has changed forever after that,” Guenther said.

Guenther said military support is crucial not only during war but

in peace time as well.

When this war is over, the veterans will still have battle scars,

Tepich said.

“What happens afterward?” he asked.

Sgt. Jason Whittling lost the use of both his arms and legs in

combat, Tepich said. He was cared for at the Veterans Affairs Medical

Center in La Jolla but needs more than what the government can offer.

The fund is working to equip him with an electric wheelchair and a

van with a lift so that he can lead a productive life.

“It saddens and angers me that our government can send billions in

aid to other countries but can’t buy an electric wheelchair for an

injured Marine -- someone who gave his limbs for his country,” Tepich

said.

Marcheano and Tepich said they hope to drum up local support for

the fund, which is based in Oceanside near Camp Pendleton, while

still gathering tangible items to send to the hospitals.

“They asked me to re-enlist, you know,” Marcheano joked. “I can’t

do that, but this I can do.”