Former Marine’s powerful lockdown message goes viral
EX COV SOLDIER LAYS BARE THE LUXURIES AND FREEDOMS WE HAVE IN OUR OWN HOMES
A POIGNANT social media post by a former Royal Marine from Coventry to ‘stay at home’ during the coronavirus pandemic has gone viral.
Using only his personal Facebook page, Lee Stuart has attracted more than 67,000 shares and 8,000 comments for his thoughts on people flouting the lockdown rules.
The 42-year-old drew on his experiences while on tour in Afghanistan in searing temperatures with the enemy firing rockets in his direction and surviving on meagre rations.
He then laid bare the comparative luxuries and freedoms we have in our own homes while social distancing to help stop the spread of the coronavirus and to protect the NHS.
Below is his Facebook post in full (with expletives removed) which came below a picture of
Lee and eight fellow Marines.
“Me and the lads out in Afghan in 2007. There was about 60 of us surrounded by hundreds of Taliban. The temperature was pushing 50 when we got there.
“We went out on patrol every day carrying 50-60lb of weapons, ammunition and equipment often getting into ferocious fire-fights with the enemy.
“There were land mines, booby traps and IED’S everywhere. We were living in derelict buildings, sleeping on camp beds and the water in the showers was ice cold ..... (the temp. dropped to -20 over the winter) and they fired mortars or Chinese Rockets
at us most nights.
“We had to s*** in a trench, sitting on a plank of wood with a hole in it. Can you imagine what a trench full of s*** smells like in 50 degrees heat?
“And one week there wasn’t enough supply helicopters, so we had to make the decision as to whether we wanted food or ammunition? We then lived on 2x cups of noodles per day for 4-5 days. “Now. I was lucky enough (depending on how you look at it) to get blown up after two months and came home to get patched up and recover.
“The boys did another four months of it. By the end two were dead (not the lads in the picture).
“Several others had suffered life changing injuries. Numerous lads had been shot.
“And one lad who’d been in my section sadly took his own life last year after suffering years of PTSD.
“That’s why it makes me want to f ***** cry when I see on the news that people can’t just stay in their f ****** house for a couple of months.
“You’ve got food. Water. A hot shower. A nice comfy bed. A telly, an ipad, a phone and music at your finger tips.
“Amazon will deliver anything else you want to your house tomorrow. Nobody is shooting at you.
“And, if you do need to go out for food, you haven’t got to worry about stepping on a f ***** booby trap!
“So please, the weather is going to be nice this week. But don’t be a d***.
“Understand and appreciate how lucky you are to be in the position you’re in, and stay in your f ****** house.
“The sooner we all screw the nut the sooner this is over.”
Thousands of people had their say on the post which was uploaded 8.37am on Monday morning. Below are some of the comments left...
Keith Evans: Well put son a proper reality check total respect
Malcolm Ryder: Total respect to you and all military and front line. You story hits home the truth.
Clive Glass: I hope your message gets thought to them
Carole Samuel: Can’t get a clearer message than that, Terrible times you’ve had, keep safe now.
Brian Endicott: You and your comrades have my utmost respect. Thank you for your post. It puts any minor inconveniences into their proper perspective.
You’ve got food. Water. A hot shower. A nice comfy bed. A telly, an ipad, a phone and music at your finger tips