Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego --
Marines
are taught to overcome any challenge that may come their way. As a child, one
Marine fought what some may say the toughest fight… cancer.
Private Adam M. McMairy, Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit
Training Battalion, was born and raised in Texas, where he lived a middle-class
lifestyle in the little town of Corinth. McMairy grew up with his mother,
father and both younger and older brothers.
The beginning of McMairy’s life was not that of a typical
toddler. At age three, he was diagnosed with Leukemia and began the fight with the
difficult disease. No one else in his family had fought such a battle, and it
was tough on everyone.
“It was the first time my family experienced something of
this caliber as far as our medical history,” said McMairy. “My parents weren’t
sure what was going to happen, but they were with me every step of the way.”
Even at such a young age, McMairy was strong and fought bravely.
After two years, they received the news that he had beaten cancer. The storm
had seemed to pass, but the fight was not over.
“I was constantly monitored to make sure it wasn’t going
to come back,” said McMairy. “I remember having to sit out during recess at
school one day. There was an internal port camera placed through my back to
monitor the progress, so I couldn’t join the kids on the playground.”
Although a person’s life is considered priceless, the
cost was high to save his.
“My dad owns his own construction business and had to put
a lot of extra hours in during the hot summer days,” said McMairy. “We received
helped from different organizations that raised money for my procedures.”
Once McMairy put it all behind him, he took it safe for a
while.
“It wasn’t until high school I started to physically and
mentally challenge my body,” said McMairy. “I played football for a couple of
years and then a bigger opportunity jumped out at me.”
McMairy befriended a new transfer student, and the two
became close friends. They motivated each other to join the Marine Corps.
“We started physical training at the recruit station and
went to every workout for the next two years,” said McMairy. “It was soon just
me though. After we graduated high school, my friend decided to join the Navy,
but I stayed with the Marine Corps. I still aggravate him sometimes about the
Marines being better.”
McMairy set out on a mission to prove if you work hard
enough, dreams can come true.
“I wanted to inspire others to push themselves toward
their dreams,” said McMairy. “Even a cancer survivor can push his body to the
limits and become a United States Marine and serve his country.”
Now that he has earned the title Marine, he will continue training at the School of Infantry and learn
his military occupational specialty as an infantryman. He plans to continue
testing himself physically and mentally with tougher challenges throughout his
Marine Corps career.