Meet Sgt. Michael Timmons, Most Generous Marine You’ll Meet
Sgt. Michael Timmons was one of the most generous Marines I met during our embed, for two big reasons:
1) He let me sleep on the slightly cushioned bench seat of our LAV-25 armored vehicle while he slept on the floor
2) He let me keep my head poked out the back hatch (like a dog seeking fresh air in a moving car) while he baked inside Timmons joined the Marines at age 17 and had re-upped when the war in Iraq began, but after 8 years in the Corp he decided to move on.
When I caught up with him last week he was working as an apprentice for one of the better known heating and air-conditioning companies in Eugene, Oregon, helping to install a new heat pump and furnace at a private home nestled in the hills above town. On our way to the interview we saw a flock of wild turkeys cross the road. It’s a beautiful area, and Timmons seems happy living and working there. He also misses the Marines, and the men he served with, and shows how much by shedding tears during our sit-down.
After a couple years out of the military, Timmons joined the Army National Guard (a part-time job), for the benefits and the camaraderie and the chance to serve his country, something that is clearly very important to a young man I admire very much.
Rick Leventhal is a correspondent in the New York bureau, but has
covered stories in more than 30 states and 20 countries, from Aruba to
Afghanistan. He has also reported from the field for dozens of World
Series games! 
Rick,
Thank you for these reports. Michael, and other men like him, are my heroes.
Rick,
This is very interesting. I’m looking forward to hearing the rest of the Marines’ stories. I admire - and appreciate - them so much for volunteering to serve our country. If I were younger, I’d be one of them! Instead, I’ve raised a son who is now a Marine and I’m very proud of him. He is doing what he always wanted to do - serving his country.
Instead just having a minute or two of these Marines stories, perhaps a 30 min. special so that you could go into more depth in their stories. It would be interesting to see how the common American Military man does such uncommon things and how some return to be the guy next door.