Marine sacrifices finger to save wedding ring

[Poll_Blind]

Sunday, December 12, 2004 Posted: 9:57 AM EST (1457 GMT)

Marine sacrifices finger to save wedding ring

VICTORVILLE, California (AP) -- 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 to cut off the finger.

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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.

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Commentary: Does it make me a bastard to say that in the same situation I'd have the ring cut off? In my opinion, the ring is the least meaninful symbol of my marriage- it's the love, the time I take to let my woman know I love her and the burdens we shoulder together that I consider the important part. To each his own, of course.

PB