This Navy Corpsman just wanted to be the best “Doc” for his team

[brid video="115910" player="7965" title="War Ink Doc"]Navy Corpsman Joel Booth's main goal in Afghanistan was to earn the respect of the Marines he was assigned to serve; he wanted to be the best 'doc' he could be. Booth gained their ad…
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Navy Corpsman Joel Booth’s main goal in Afghanistan was to earn the respect of the Marines he was assigned to serve. He wanted to be the best ‘doc’ he could be. Booth gained their admiration during operations. But after he stepped on an IED, he was Medevaced from the country. Yet it wasn’t the loss of his lower right leg that nearly killed Booth, but having to leave his brothers in danger without him.


Now, on Booth’s torso is a tattoo of a baby holding hands with an angel and the Grim Reaper. Just below the supernatural trio is a tombstone with Booth’s birth date. Next to it is the date Booth stepped on the IED, but it’s been crossed out.

“There is a chisel in the angel’s hand,” Booth explains, “meaning it’s not my time yet.”

Booth’s story is part of a video series presented by We Are The Mighty. War Ink: 11 for 11 features 11 combat veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. All of these veterans use tattoos as a way to tell their stories on and off the battlefield. 
Each week for the next 11 weeks, a different tattooed veteran will share his or her story.
Do you have a tattoo that tells the story of your war experiences? Post a photo of it at We Are The Mighty’s Facebook page with the hashtag #WeAreTheMightyInk. WATM will be teeing up the coolest and most intense ones through Veteran’s Day.Video Credit: Rebecca Murga and Karen Kraft