John at Bethesda National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) after sustaining a gunshot wound to to the head on 9/26/06 His surgery was performed in Balad, Iraq. He was flown to Landstuhl, Germany on 9/28/06 and then on to NNMC on 9/29/06..
(Sept. 30, 2006)
John with speech therapist, Linda Picon, at James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa, FL. This shows John's face at its worst, due to the severing of the left facial nerve by the sniper's bullet.
(Nov. 20, 2006)
This was when it was first realized that John's face was starting to restore. When John and his friend, Allen, were together, John asked Allen, "Dude, do you see my left cheek rise up when I smile?"
Allen looked at him.and exclaimed, "Yes! It IS rising up!" That was the beginning of the continuous miraculous improvement to the left side of John's face. (Dec. 28, 2006)
This was the very first indication that John's left dimple was returning. Note how much his smile has expanded.The doctor who did the EMG test in Columbia in Feb. '07, said "The facial nerve has an 8% activity;anything less than 10% is a very poor prognosis". John's mother's response to the doctor, "I really don't care......look at him!!!" (Feb. 2007)
The Story of Three-Time
Purple Heart Recipient,
LCpl John McClellan
Immediately after his Second PurpleHeart injury in Afghanistan, John is shown completing his medical paperwork while enroute to the hospital. (Oct. 17, 2005). Note the two blood spots .....one on the right where the AK-47 bullet went in his arm and one on the left where the bullet exited.
What a Miracle!
# 1 He survived!!!
# 2 He didn't lose his arm.
P.S. John has since given up cigarettes.
John, immediately after being presented his third Purple Heart by General Michael Hagee, Commandant of the USMC. General Hagee told the family that John was only the second person General Hagee knew personally, who had earned 3 purple hearts. The first was in the Vietnam War.
Soon after Gen. Hagee's visit, surgery was performed inserting a gold weight in John's left eyelid to assist it's closing. The AK-47 bullet severed the facial nerve which controls the eyelid. It was important that the eye lid close to prevent drying of the cornea. The gold weight helped tremendously achieving that goal. (October , 2006)
The first time John walked with Physical Therapist, Juan Jose Vallada at James A. Haley Hospital in Tampa, FL. (Oct. 2006)
John with occupational therapists in Tampa, FL. Note the severe drooping on the left side due to the severing of the left facial nerve. The doctors in Tampa said it would take years for the facial nerve to recover....if ever. (Nov. 20, 2006)
John with the hand-signed quilt presented to him when he returned home to Columbia from Tampa, FL.. Note the left dimple restoration. (March 2007)
John with sister, Jane, at Bethesda Navy Lodge awaiting cranioplasy surgery, which was cancelled because the muscle had miraculously grown sufficiently to protect the brain. However, while there John was able to have the weight removed from his eyelid as it was no longer needed since his eyelid now closed perfectly. ( March 2007).
John was an honored guest at the Memorial Day Airshow in Columbia, MO. (May 2007). Left to right, Jamie Bowman, Jane McClellan Bowman, Paige Ely, John, Mom & Dad.
John with his new Golden Retriever puppy, Lucky. (June 2007)
John was honored as an Outstanding Missourian by the MO House of Representatives,. From left , Grandmother, Connie Robertson; Sister, Jane McCLellan Bowman, MO Gov. Matt Blunt; John; Dad, Carl; Mom, Connie;,family friend, Jean Timby ("Aunt Tim") and MO Representative, Jeff Harris..(January 10, 2007)
9 .mos. later, this "sequel" picture was taken of Larry, John and Lance while on vacation in Edinburgh, Scotland, July 2007
John's cousins, Larry and Lance Loethen came to Bethesda NNMC to visit John. They were able to persuade him to get in a wheelchair for the first time. This picture was taken outside of NNMC. (October 2006)
Another Scotland "sequel" pose (July, 2007).
A third Scotland "sequel" pose. (July 2007)
Click below to view KMIZ television broadcast immediately after notification of John's injury and then the following night after God answered the prayers of everyone connected to this story. September 27 & 28, 2006
Click on the box below to view the television broadcast after John returned from the James A. Haley V.A. Rehabilitaton Hospital in Tampa, FL. This was when John's face was at its worst. Nov. 22, 2006
Click here to view KMIZ Television broadcast of John's awarding
of the Outstanding Missourian. Note the improvement in the left side of his face. January 17, 2007
Click here to view the KMIZ Television broadcasts showing John as an honored guest at the Columbia Memorial Day Air Show, May 2007. Notice that John's face is almost totally restored.
John with President Bush in Washington D.C., August 2008
The last chapter of My Miracle Marine is "A Tribute to Mario." Mario Anes is who God used to save John's life immediately after he was shot the third time. On September 11th, John, and his Mom and Dad flew to San Antonio, TX where they were re-united with Mario and his Mom and Grandmother. In addition, they were joined by John Bishop and his Mom. John Bishop was with John McClellan when he was shot the first time,in October of 2005. That time, John McClellan was hardly hurt. John Bishop, on the other hand, was critically injured in that same firefight. He is doing great now.
Shown Above, from left to right, Front Row: Nilda Anes, Mario's Grandma, Mario Anes, John Bishop. Back Row: Connie, McClellan, Anita Bishop, John McClellan, September 11, 2008.
Shown at Left: John McClellan, Mario Anes, John Bishop, September 11, 2008.
Lucky I and Lucky II, September 2008.
Lucky II at the "pool plunge," Sept. '08.
Lucky loves to play frisbee, swim and retrieve tennis balls
