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| Sgt. Jacob Boyce of Raleigh Recruiting Bn, Fayetteville Company |
by Ron Toland
Raleigh
Recruiting Battalion
Sgt. Jacob Boyce understands the
meaning of selfless service.
Six years ago, Boyce, an Army Recruiter
out of Sanford N.C. Recruiting Center, registered with The C.W. Bill Young
Department of Defense (DoD) Marrow Donor Recruitment and Research Program to
donate bone marrow.
In Sept. of 2015, he received the call to
donate bone marrow, possibly saving the life of a 5-year old boy with Leukemia.
“I just can’t say no to helping others,”
he said. “It is just who I am.”
Boyce explained that the registration
process involves multiple steps; from cotton mouth swabs to multiple blood and
marrow testings, ensuring he is a potential and /or an exact match to donate.
The entire process, from travel, surgery
on Sept. 23 to recovery and his release, took four days, at the Georgetown
University Hospital in Washington, D.C.
But just a few weeks after his release,
Boyce, 27, is back on his feet and you’d never know he donated.
Boyce believes that his act of putting
others first and stopping to help others, defines the ethos of Army Leadership
of Selfless Service.
“Being a father of two girls, I cannot
leave people hanging. It is what I would expect from anyone else,” the
recruiter said.
And his company commander underlines his
sentiments.
“Soldiers know the Army Values, but how
often do we see someone live up to them,” said Fayetteville Recruiting Company Commander, Cpt. Markinna Baskin.
“Sgt. Boyce has proven to be selfless,
even prior to the decision to donate his bone marrow. He's that teammate that
you always want on your team,” she said.
Baskin said that this came as no surprise
to her when Boyce discussed his being a donor match.
He understood the procedure and discomfort
that comes with having this type of surgery. But his special interest ensuring
the young boys' improvement after his donation procedure was the only concern
he displayed, she said.
And going that mile is larger than ones
self.
“Selfless service is larger than just one
person. In serving your country, you are doing your duty loyally without
thought of recognition or gain. The basic building block of selfless service is
the commitment of each team member to go a little further, endure a little
longer and look a little closer to see how he or she can add to the effort. Boyce demonstrated selfless service by
providing a piece of himself in order for a young man to live a long and
prosperous life,” said the commander.
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