VICTORVILLE, Calif. - When Marine Lance Cpl. David Battle learned he'd either have to sacrifice his ring finger or the wedding band he wore, he told doctors at a field hospital in Iraq (news - web sites) to cut off the finger.


The 19-year-old former high school football star suffered a mangled left hand and serious wounds to his legs in a Nov. 13 fire fight in Fallujah. Battle, who is recovering at his parents' home in this desert city 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, came under attack as he and fellow Marines entered a building. Eleven other Marines were wounded.


Doctors were preparing to cut off Battle's ring to save as much of his finger as they could.


"But that would mean destroying my wedding ring," he said. "My wife is the strongest woman I know. She's basically running two people's lives since I've been gone. I don't think I could ever repay her or show her how grateful ... how much I love my wife, my soul mate."


With his approval, doctors severed his finger, but somehow in the chaos that followed, they lost his ring.


Although Battle was disappointed, his wife, Devon, said she was honored.


"I can't believe he did that," she said. "At first I was mad when he told me, but then I realized how lucky I am to have him in my life."


The couple, who met in the eighth grade, were married in June, just two weeks before Battle left for Iraq. He hopes to eventually return to the Marines, and to replace his wedding ring, but that will have to wait until he recovers.


In the meanwhile, Battle's high school has planned a banquet in his honor next week.


"We need to make more David Battles," said Daniel Pierce, the school's assistant head coach. "He is one amazing guy."

Mach said:

precious...

Mach said:

That's gotta suck.

Wow. You'd think that they would have maybe not lost the ring, since the whole reason he had his finger cut off was to keep the ring.

If my husband did something as stupid as this I would seriously re-think my marriage to him,

thescandalouslife said:

Yes, ironic, isn't it?

applekisses said:

That's what I'm sayin!


What a jack ass!

Mach said:

Sweeny79 said:

this is why 19 year olds should not get married. they do stupid sentimental crap like this. you know some 35 year old guy would not be playing with that cut of my finger foolishness. God only gives you two hands while jewelers make thousands of rings.

The ring finger doesn't come into play while doing "the shocker" so I don't think the wife has anything to be upset about.

Sweeny79 said:

you know he is going to be hating himself after they divorce in three years...

sosgemini said:

ya know...

ReturnOfDOOK said:

"the shocker"? somethin' sexual...right?

AnckSuNamun said:

"Two in the pink, one in the stink"

ReturnOfDOOK said:

I'd still be happy

ReturnOfDOOK said:

oh. you even included a visual.

AnckSuNamun said:

We're very thorough here at the ORG...

Poor dumb bastard, I can't believe they lost the fucking ring

Sweeny79 said:

Wow. I know he's trying to be caring and all, but did he really think his wife would be dissapointed with him if he didn't cut his finger off?

Tom said:

I dunno - sometimes wives/girlfriends can be irrational. That's what I've heard anyways...

I think he just didn't want to have to fork out for another one - cheap ass!

applekisses said:

Who says romance is dead?



(It's just...giving the finger-oh c'mon, you know you wanted to say that...)

stupid straight people.

Sweeny79 said:

JasmineFire said:

EXACTLY...hello!

and that stupid guy was given guns to 'protect' us.

Dumb ass.

So sweet, yet so stupid.

This guy should've been a lap dog instead of a soldier.