Sept. 11 attacks inspired dream of joining military
U.S. Marine Cpl. Christopher J. “CJ” Boyd, 22, of Palatine, a star athlete at Palatine High School, was killed Aug. 19, 2010, by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife, twin boys, and his parents, Ken and Patty Boyd of Palatine. His father, Ken Boyd, writes about the son he calls “my hero.”
This is a story about a very determined young man, Cpl. CJ Boyd of the United States Marine Corps.
I am lucky to be one of those people who when someone asks you, #147;Who do you idolize?#148; or, #147;Who do you look up to?#148; I could always answer, #147;My son, CJ.#148; He is my hero.
Back when CJ was a little guy just starting school, his mother, Patty, and I would always teach him to be a leader, not a follower. Leaders lead and followers get in trouble #8212; day in and day out. That was how he was raised.
As a young boy, CJ was a very determined athlete. He made the travel baseball team at age 9 and played the game he loved. At age 12, he missed the cut. I don#146;t know if that broke our hearts more or his. That did not stop him #8212; he made a different team. I can remember one game against his old team in a tournament when he hit a home run and won the game. That was his determination.
CJ started playing youth football in seventh grade. He made the team as a starting center. At the first game#146;s weigh-in, he was a couple of pounds overweight and was not going to be able to play. A player on the other team also had the same issue, so both coaches worked it out and let both boys play. On our way home, CJ asked me to stop at a store and buy a scale that had markers on it so he could set his desired weight. CJ never missed weight again and did not lose a football game for the next two years. After his second season, he was named the most-improved player. That was his determination.
After the tragedy of Sept. 11, CJ became even more determined. He sat on a hammock with his mother and said, #147;Mom, we can#146;t let them get away with this.#148; This was his call to duty.
It made him even more determined to join the Marine Corps. CJ would read every book on special ops and watch every movie and show he could.
First he had to finish high school. CJ made the starting A-team in football and baseball, and since he had some spare time, also wrestled and played lacrosse.
CJ also met his girlfriend. She was a cheerleader and he was the athlete. They were a perfect match. This is the young woman that he fell in love with and would later marry and have a beautiful family with.
CJ was a three-sport varsity letterman. He was undersized for a football center, but with his determination and hard work he made all-conference. During one game, just before halftime, he broke two ribs. His coach asked him if he was OK. He responded, #147;Don#146;t worry about me, I can do my job, just make the rest of the team do theirs.#148;
The next day at practice, the trainer would not let him practice and asked him where his helmet and pads were. He gave them up and the trainer locked them in the cage and left. They were not his pads. He put his on and ran to the field to practice. He was very determined.
During CJ#146;s junior year, he had been meeting with military recruiters and had made his mind up he was going to be a Marine. He had invited the recruiter to our home so his mother and I could sign his enlistment papers. He was 17.
We sat down that night as a family and asked him to tell us why he wanted to join the Marines. CJ brought out four sheets of paper with the pros and cons of each of the military branches. The Marines had the most pros and the least number of cons.
The one that sticks in my mind was his last pro: #147;When you become a Marine, you are a Marine for life.#148;
When high school ended, he left for boot camp with the biggest smile on his face. Thirteen weeks later was an amazing time at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. CJ had made squad leader and earned his PFC (private first class) stripe. He was very determined and proud. On Sept. 27, 2006, CJ was assigned to Co C MARSOC Marine Special Command. His determination #8212; his dream.
CJ trained for a year with MARSOC and became a scout swimmer at amphibious raid school. It was one of his proudest moments.
In the middle of February 2007, CJ married his high school sweetheart. They were perfect for each other. In August 2007, CJ was assigned to Fox Co 2/4. He trained again at amphibious raid school and graduated the nautical navigator course.
CJ went on his first deployment, and when he returned, his wife delivered identical twin boys. CJ was able to be home for the boys#146; first year and their birthday.
In September 2009, CJ deployed for the second time, and during this deployment he re-enlisted for another four years. He returned in April 2010 and was to be home for 16 months. He immediately volunteered to redeploy in five weeks with 60 other Marines to Afghanistan.
I remember his phone call when he told me that, technically, he was still on active deployment and that is why he was being sent to Afghanistan. We know he volunteered and they took only the 60 best for the mission.
On Aug. 19, 2010, CJ was killed in action in the Helmand Province by an IED. As a squad leader, he still took point, because if you asked him, no one could take point better than him or clear a house better than him.
Please remember our fallen heroes and their families. This is why you have the freedoms you enjoy today.