Sailor forgives shipmate who stabbed him

[unhappycamper]

Sailor forgives shipmate who stabbed him
By Kate Wiltrout - The Virginian-Pilot
Posted : Saturday Nov 29, 2008 15:06:37 EST

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Jose Garcia’s physical wounds are almost imperceptible.

When he tilts his head back, you can see a thin scar stretching from behind his right ear, along his jaw to his chin. If you look closely, you might notice that the right side of his mouth droops the tiniest bit, the result of permanent nerve damage.

The scars will always be with him, but Garcia refuses to be burdened by resentment over the random attack that almost killed him last year. He has forgiven the shipmate who slashed his throat, stabbed his chest and ripped open his abdomen.

Earlier this month, after a military judge found Seaman Richard Mott guilty of attempted murder for the attack aboard a Navy berthing barge, Garcia asked to meet privately with Mott’s parents.

“I told them to tell him that I do forgive him,” Garcia said. “He’ll be haunted by that for the rest of his life if he doesn’t know how I feel about what happened.”


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_sailorforgives_112908/%2e