Retired Marine rebuilds his life after brush with death in Iraq
He has a new life and a new set of goals, including one to become a high school teacher. He has written a book, works with other wounded veterans and is a sought-after motivational speaker.
Reporting from San Diego — In his San Diego apartment, retired Marine Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch keeps two jagged hunks of metal from Iraq: one from a day of triumph, the other from the day he almost died.
One piece is from the statue of Saddam Hussein that Marines pulled down in central Baghdad in April 2003. A news photo from that day shows a grinning, cigar-smoking Popaditch sitting atop his tank as the statue fell.
The other piece is from the rocket-propelled grenade that, 12 months later, nearly killed Popaditch during a fight in Fallouja. He lost his right eye and 92% of the vision in his left. The explosion also destroyed his dream of reaching sergeant major, the senior enlisted rank.
His recovery has been long and difficult, physically and emotionally. "I almost totally lost track of who I am," he said.
But now Popaditch has a new life and new set of goals. He works with other wounded veterans and is a sought-after motivational speaker.
He also has enrolled at San Diego State, with the goal of becoming a high school history or social studies teacher. He reads with the aid of magnifying devices. But for a recent B in Japanese, he would have a 4.0 grade point average.
"I've been a drill instructor and I've been in combat," he said, laughing. "I figure I can teach in high school."
Popaditch also has written a book, with freelance writer Mike Steere, about his life in the Marine Corps, his combat experiences and his refusal to blame anyone for his injuries or feel sorry for himself.
He holds no grudge against the insurgent who fired the rocket-propelled grenade.
"I was trying to kill him; he just hit me first," Popaditch said matter-of-factly. "If you are going out as a Marine, you want to go out in a gunfight. The one I went out in was a pretty good one."
His book, "Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander's Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage and Recovery," is conversational and plain-spoken. He wants his words to set an example for others who have been wounded or injured in war or civilian life.
"I want people to see that when you're faced with a life-changing event, you can survive," Popaditch said. "When you get rearranged physically, one thing that doesn't change is your character."
He has had several operations to remove shrapnel from his head, nose and eye, although he was forced to wage a months-long battle against military bureaucracy to get proper benefits. The Marine Corps, over his objections, moved to retire him as medically unfit for active duty after 15 years of service.
