Family of fallen Marine needs help getting to son's funeral
SEATTLE -- A Marine corporal's family is falling through cracks after he was killed in the line of duty. They can't afford to fly to the funeral in Louisiana and the military won't cover that cost. But you can help them say their goodbyes.
Cpl. Joe Wrightsman was a Marine's, Marine.
"He liked to be out front," said his father John Wrightsman. "He was one of the guys who like to be right out front,."
But the 23 year old was also a jokester with his fellow Marines.
"Funny, kind of goofy, can be goofy," John Wrightsman said.
John Wrightsman says this week he and fellow Marines were crossing a river with Afghan police. Joe made it to the other side, but turned and saw an Afghan officer in trouble.
"And my son jumped in after him and the current, the current got them both," John Wrightsman said.
After getting the devastating news his dad got another shock. Joe's mother planned the funeral in Louisiana, but the military will not pay for his father's plane ticket from Seattle.
"Because he's not being buried there, they are just having the funeral in Louisiana," John Wrightsman said. "But he's going to be buried in Arlington, that the Marines, the government, pays for the trip to Arlington and that's it,."
He made dozens of phone calls, and eventually found Seth Watson with Operation Once In Lifetime. They step in when military members or their families fall through the cracks.
"Why after losing a loved one, and burying one of your children should you have any of this extra worry, headache, on how things will be taken care of," said Seth Watson with Operation Once in a Lifetime.
They are trying to raise the money for Joe's father, brother and sister in Poulsbo to fly to his funeral, but are still coming up short.
"For them not to be able to go see their brother's funeral along with myself, because of finances, when all that my son gave up was hard to hear," John Wrightsman said.
Just Friday, John Wrightsman got official word from the Marines of his son's death.
"It says, 'Please accept my sincere condolences on the death of your son the late Cpl. Joe Lee Wrightsman, U.S. Marine Corps," he said.
Now he hopes he can be there to say goodbye.
If you want to help, you can Donate to the KOMO Problem Solvers Fund and we'll make sure the money gets to them.
Cpl. Joe Wrightsman was a Marine's, Marine.
"He liked to be out front," said his father John Wrightsman. "He was one of the guys who like to be right out front,."
But the 23 year old was also a jokester with his fellow Marines.
"Funny, kind of goofy, can be goofy," John Wrightsman said.
John Wrightsman says this week he and fellow Marines were crossing a river with Afghan police. Joe made it to the other side, but turned and saw an Afghan officer in trouble.
"And my son jumped in after him and the current, the current got them both," John Wrightsman said.
After getting the devastating news his dad got another shock. Joe's mother planned the funeral in Louisiana, but the military will not pay for his father's plane ticket from Seattle.
"Because he's not being buried there, they are just having the funeral in Louisiana," John Wrightsman said. "But he's going to be buried in Arlington, that the Marines, the government, pays for the trip to Arlington and that's it,."
He made dozens of phone calls, and eventually found Seth Watson with Operation Once In Lifetime. They step in when military members or their families fall through the cracks.
"Why after losing a loved one, and burying one of your children should you have any of this extra worry, headache, on how things will be taken care of," said Seth Watson with Operation Once in a Lifetime.
They are trying to raise the money for Joe's father, brother and sister in Poulsbo to fly to his funeral, but are still coming up short.
"For them not to be able to go see their brother's funeral along with myself, because of finances, when all that my son gave up was hard to hear," John Wrightsman said.
Just Friday, John Wrightsman got official word from the Marines of his son's death.
"It says, 'Please accept my sincere condolences on the death of your son the late Cpl. Joe Lee Wrightsman, U.S. Marine Corps," he said.
Now he hopes he can be there to say goodbye.
If you want to help, you can Donate to the KOMO Problem Solvers Fund and we'll make sure the money gets to them.