Episode #161
Episode 161: Eric Morantes
When Eric Morante joined the Marine Corps upon his high school graduation in 2003, he knew he had found his forever home. Eric thrived in the Marine Corps, and over the next three and a half years, rose to the rank of Sergeant. During his third deployment, in 2007, while serving as an Infantry Squad Leader, a suicide bomber changed the course of Eric’s life….On that fateful day in Iraq, Eric and his men were guarding a bridge – literally living there for over a month – when a suicide bomber drove a truck with over 3,000 pounds of explosives under the bridge and exploded it on April 20, 2007. Of the eight members of the squad (seven Marines and their Navy corpsman), six were severely injured and had to be medevac’d out. Eric lost his right leg above the knee in the blast and also shattered his wrist.Since coming home, however, Eric has now found a passion in boxing, and hopes to make paralympic boxing a recognized Olympic sport in 2020. Eric wishes to settle in San Antonio and car for his mother – who literally got on a plane at a moments’ notice to be by her son’s side during his long recovery – initially at Bethesda Naval and subsequently at SAAMC.Eric continues to give back by caring for his platoon members, and through boxing, he hopes others will see that he continues to live his life to the fullest, giving back to all those he loves, as best he can. He was also able to pursue a culinary degree, and hopes to one day open a restaurant or have a food truck. A suicide bomber died in vain back in 2007 – he DID NOT break the spirit of this wonderful Marine, or any of his men – he just reinforced their resolve to live and defend the “land of the free.”
