Marine Wife's "Pay It Foward" Philosophy

Tonia Sargent, Whose Husband Was Shot In The Head In Iraq, Reaches Out To Vets In Need

(CBS)  Today, we continue our series "Early Angels," honoring those who have given so much, putting others' needs far beyond their own. Dave Price, The Early Show's weather anchor, shares a touching story at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Inside this home are two American heroes. One who fought and nearly died in Iraq. The other, a Marine wife whose courage and tenacity are a thing to behold.

It's a conversation every military family fears.

"I said your dad's been shot and I don't know what's going to happen, and my youngest daughter just lost it and said, 'not my dad!'" Tonia Sargent said.

A sniper's bullet hit Kenneth Sargent in the head, a U.S. Marine on patrol in Iraq, in August 2004.

"I thought he was gone," said Staff Sgt. Clinton Inness.

It's the type of wound that would have killed soldiers in previous wars.

Sargent suffered a traumatic brain injury. Tonia, was told the prognosis was grim.

"They said he'll probably not be able to see you, hear you, speak to you, and he may not remember you," Tonia Sargent said.

After months of life-saving and life-altering surgery, Kenny was moved to the V.A. Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif., where his wife was told, "Sorry, no visitors."

"You don't push a Marine Corps wife away. Not this wife. I'm not a visitor. I'll come and go as I damn well please!" Tonia said.

When Kenny came home, Tonia took on the full-time role of caring for him.

His brain injury is irreversible and he requires constant care.

Fate made Kenny a patient, but determination made Tonia a warrior.

She's taken it upon herself to fight the battles that military families are too tired, or too proud, to face alone, Price notes.

"I find them in bars, at the mall, subway. They are your neighbor," she said.

Seeing the need was one thing. Reaching through, quite another.

"There's a stigma!! You can't say that you're weak in the Corp. You want to be the weak link in the chain? No!" Tonia said.

"You could say I was too proud, because you know, growing up a Marine Corp brat," Tonia admitted.

That's why Tonia reached out and helped veteran Tricia Montez. "We don't go seeking help," Montez said.

"I can just see in their eyes the darkness and the pain," Tonia said.

"She just saw something in me that she just knew right away that I needed help. I was lost," Montez said.

Five tours of duty had taken their toll on Montez. Tonia's helping hand changed everything.

"I always had acquaintances and now I have friends because of her," Montez said. "I always used to think the world was just takers. Take, take, take, you know. I've never honestly encountered someone so giving in my life."

Just about every day, Tonia's home turns into a parade of well-wishers - Marines paying tribute to Kenny and Tonia.

"It's unbelievable for somebody to have that much drive so other people don't have to go what she went through," said Inness. "So basically I just want to thank her."

He's just one of many, including, and especially, her husband.

"I thought I would lose her" Kenny said. "I wouldn't be alive today if she wouldn't stay with me."

Tonia's commitment to her husband is endless.

And that commitment is only equal to her devotion to help others.

"She's the most unselfish woman I've ever met," Kenny said. "She just gives! Without even asking. And thank you isn't enough for her. She's a godsend."

What Tonia offers are simple acts of kindness: providing vets and their families everything from a shoulder to cry on - to a table to sit at. In fact, many of their belongings have been given away to help others, Price says.

[markov1965]

Loved this segment. I'm an American living in Dubai, UAE and it was great to see the show. I salute you for showing it and all the great folks who made it possible.

[toniasargent]

Master Sargent Kenneth Sargent was traveling in a convoy on his second tour in Iraq, near Najaf on Aug. 5, 2004, when his vehicle was ambushed. A ricocheting bullet struck him below the right eye, exited near his left ear and damaged the front of his brain. The bullet was responsible for the loss of most of Sargent's vision, all the hearing in his left ear and portions of his memory and mental functioning.
He barely survived. His wife, Tonia, nearly collapsed after seeing Kenny in the intensive care unit, broken, unconscious and his body invaded with tubes. I didn't even recognize him,? Tonia recalled. ?I said, 'Squeeze my hand if you know who I am.' ? He squeezed.
In May 2008 Kenny retired from the Marine Corp after 21years. The Sargent?s are currently residing on Camp Pendleton in base housing.
Ken is unemployable and they have to move out of military housing in early 2009.
New Song Community Church?s
goal is to raise enough money to provide at a minimum the down payment or through the Lord?s blessing a house. All donations are tax deductible and should be made out to the below address:
New Song Community Church
(Attn: Sargent Fund)
3985 Mission Ave
Oceanside, CA 92058
DONATE ONLINE:
http://www.newsongchurch.com/
click on GIVE
click on ONLINE GIVING
DONATE UNDER SARGENT FUND