A portrait of Rachel Smith's late husband, Marine Staff Sgt. Jeremy Smith, who was killed in Afghanistan in April, hangs in her Fort Worth home. The tattoos on her arm are a tribute to their love and his life as a Marine. Photo: Billy Smith II / © 2011 Chronicle Marine's Widow Eternally Grateful For Ring's Return -- Houston Chronicle
Her husband didn’t return from Afghanistan, but his platoon made sure the symbol of their love did
Sgt. Jared Hammonds frantically scanned an Afghan poppy field, searching for a glint of silver in the soil.
The 27-year-old Marine reservist from Conroe was looking for a wedding band.
The ring belonged to Staff Sgt. Jeremy Smith, 26, of Arlington, who lay dead a few feet away. He had been wearing it on a chain around his neck when his platoon came under fire, but in the chaos of the battlefield it had gone missing.
There was nothing more Hammonds could do for his friend except this one thing: Find the ring and return it to his wife, Rachel.
"I know he would do the same thing for me," Hammonds said.
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My Comment: Stories from the home front are now rarely published in today's news media .... kudos to the Houston Chronicle for publishing this one.