It’s a military motto that “no man is left behind.” And for a U.S. Marine from Missouri, who will be taken off life support Friday, his comrades in arms have been stopping by his hospital bed to say goodbye. Many of them are strangers but they all share the common bond of brotherhood in the military.
Phillip Rochette, 49, enlisted in the Marines out of high school. In early July he began having headaches and vomiting spells. His sister, Denise Rochette, called an ambulance. En route to the hospital, Rochette suffered a massive stroke, KTVI reported.
Denise Rochette posted her brother’s condition on Facebook. During a conversation with a Marine, she mentioned it would be nice if some fellow Marines paid him a visit. The Marine posted a photo of Rochette on Facebook and it was shared more than 1,000 times, KTVI reported.
For the past week, hundreds of Marines have been showing up at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
Jeremy Kohler saw the post on Instagram and drove from Chicago on Thursday.
“It’s the end of his watch, time for him to go home, so we will take it from here,” Kohler told KTVI.
I made this video while we still have Phillip and I cried happy and sad tears. It isn't the best but I love it. So if you have 5 minutes, take a look at Phillip Rochette, his family, through his short time here. Losing Jim Rochette Sr. Was beyond devastating, 2 short years ago and now 2 years later the devastation has returned. But I have been so very blessed to have these men as my brothers. *****the song in the video is not mine and I am not stealing it. Fb said I was so making sure everyone knows that ****
Posted by Denise Rochette on Saturday, July 29, 2017
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