Enlisting in the military means that you’re ready to face struggles you’ve never even imagined.
It means suffering physically and emotionally, both during deployment- fighting depression when you realize you might not see your family again- and after.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is another aspect of emotional struggle related to serving in the military.
“About 11-20 out of every 100 Veterans (or between 11-20%) who served in OIF or OEF have PTSD in a given year,” statistics show.
But in many cases physical and emotional trauma can be combined.
For Sgt Richard Silva, serving in Iraq was a tragedy in its own right.
He lost fellow Marines, and he was also severely wounded.
You see, during his deployment in Fallujah, Iraq, he got involved in various hostile combat situations.
In the summer of 2004, he and his Marine brother, Cpl. Powers, were attacked by mortars, and he was the only survivor.
“Mortars landed in between a fellow Marine and myself,” the man told White Heart.
“I was hit with some shrapnel and it peppered my legs, my back, and severed my buddy’s leg.”
After the attack was over, Silva was medically evacuated and returned to the States to be treated for his severe injuries.
He was the only survivor from his unit.
And, while he is happy to be alive, he knows that he won’t be able to participate in his favorite activity anymore.
Richard used to love motorcycles and he would ride one whenever he got the chance.
However, doctors have concluded that he can’t do it again.
Several years ago, the veteran was invited to Jay Leno’s famous Garage for what he thought was just a tour.
But Leno and White Heart had prepared a heartwarming surprise for the former Marine.
“In partnership with Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys and the Veterans Charity Ride, White Heart teamed up with Jay Leno to give Richard a surprise he’ll never forget,” White Heart wrote on their website about this story.
So, the veteran, accompanied by his family, was welcomed in the Garage by Leno himself, and he was shown around.
He loved the vehicles he got to see, but he had no idea he was about to see the one that would become his.
At some point, Leno shows Silva a Can-Am Spyder. Leno asks Silva to get closer, while he tells his son that he’s very proud of the boy’s father because he’s a hero.
He then asks the boy to give his father a key.
“This key is to that bike, and this is going to your dad as a gift from us,” Leno tells the child.
He then turns to Silva telling him that it’s a gift from “all of us to you, and for your sacrifice.”
The veteran can’t hold back his tears, and he then shares a tight hug with Leno.
The man couldn’t be happier. He was “deeply grateful” as he said.
Watch how the heartwarming surprise unfolded in the video below!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
