A day after becoming an Honorary Marine, 8-year-old Wyatt Gillette passed away Sunday morning. Gillette received his Eagle, Globe and Anchor as well as a smart salute Saturday at Camp Pendleton, California. Both Gillette’s father and mother were with him at the School of Infantry-West Parade Deck.
His father, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Gillette, confirmed Sunday that the boy had died. The elder Gillette is a drill instructor with 2nd Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
MARINE CORPS TIMES
Terminally ill 8-year-old boy to become Honorary Marine
Gillette’s family is asking for donations to cover funeral expenses. Those interested can contribute online.
Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller approved Gillette as an Honorary Marine just days after a petition was posted online asking him to bestow the honor on the young boy, who was born on Aug. 15, 2008, and diagnosed four years later with Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome Type 1 (Trex 1 Mutation), a rare genetic disorder.
On Saturday, Neller tweeted pictures of Gillette becoming an Honorary Marine with this message: “One of the easiest decisions yet as CMC was to make this 8-yr old a Marine. Keep fighting, Wyatt! You are a Marine!”
Gillette is only the 96th person to receive the honor since the program began in 1992. He recently returned home from six weeks in the hospital so that he could begin hospice care.
"The courageous fight that Wyatt continues is absolutely ‘Marine,’” Neller told Marine Corps Times on Thursday. “Wyatt is the epitome of Semper Fidelis, and we are hoping and praying for him and his family.”
Such a sad story. Very good job by the US Marines. May the boy RIP, and may God comfort the family !! 