Marine vet of Iraq war takes up self-imposed duty at Calif. school in wake of Conn. shooting

A Marine veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan took up self-imposed duty in front of a central California elementary school in the wake of the Connecticut shooting.

Hughson Elementary School Principal Laura Fong said Sgt. Craig Pusley stood all day Wednesday in fatigues in front of the flag pole at the school just southeast of Modesto. He was not armed.

Pusley, who served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan before leaving active duty last year, told Fong that “he wanted to make the kids feel safe in light of what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary,” the principal said.

The veteran Marine arrived at the K-3 school a little before 7:30 am, Fong said, and asked permission to stand guard. He stood in front of the flag pole until 2:30 p.m., she said, without taking any breaks.

Sgt. Pusley is a father of a three-year-old and his wife is expecting another child. He told the Modesto Bee (http://bit.ly/R5NnRI) that he decided to take action after reading a Facebook post urging soldiers to be posted at every school in the wake of last week’s tragic shooting in Connecticut.

(bolding mine)

He wouldn’t need a gun, since most would-be murderers would piss their pants at the thought of facing a United States Marine. I know its just a gesture, but I still appreciate it.