Amputee Marine returns to battle

William "Spanky" Gibson's is on his second tour of duty in Ramadi, Iraq -- the same place where he lost his leg after being shot by an insurgent sniper.

Sunday, June 15th 2008, 11:09 pm

By: News 9


NEWS 9

William "Spanky" Gibson's is on his second tour of duty in Ramadi, Iraq,  the same place he lost his leg after being shot by an insurgent sniper.

The Oklahoma gunnery sergeant is one of only a few amputees to return to combat. He volunteered to return to Iraq.

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"This is not just all about me," he said. "Yes it's very personal to me, but it's also very personal for the Marine Corps to be able to judge what they can do with guys like me in the future."

Although it was difficult, Chaney Gibson said she gave her husband her blessing to volunteer for his second and final tour of duty in Iraq.

"I knew what I was getting into when I married him," she said. "I married a marine. I knew what I was doing and I'm not going to try and hold him back or anything."

The gunnery sergeant said he thinks about his wife and daughter every day.

"I worry about them everyday 'cause I'm not there to protect them," he said.

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