Special to The Journal

Cpl. Clifton Trotter is improving daily at his home in Jacksonville, N.C., with a daily regiment of intense rehabilitation.

Cpl. Trotter was shot in Fallujah, Iraq, on Jan. 5, 2006, during his duty of bodyguard and crowd control. He was heroically rescuing a nineteen-year-old Marine who had been shot. While carrying the Marine back to safety, Cpl. Trotter was shot in the neck in an artery.

He was in critical condition, and at that time, was flown to an Iraq hospital, and from there, he was taken to Landstuhl, Germany, for surgery. He was then transported to Bethesda Maryland Naval Hospital for more surgery and for recovery time. He remained in Bethesda Maryland Naval Hospital for 2 and 1/2 weeks. Later, he was sent to Jacksonville, N.C., to Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital for intense rehab.

Cpl. Trotter is improving every day and is continuing his rehabilitation. He has damage to his left arm, and the C5 and C6 vertebrae in his neck are damaged. He also has damage to his voice box.

For anyone who would like to write to Cpl. Trotter, the address is:

Cpl. Clifton Trotter, 217 Chaparral Trail, Jacksonville, N.C.

28546.

Cpl. Trotter is a native of Luverne, Ala. He is the son of Raymond and Bonnie Trotter and the husband of Stephanie Smith Trotter, all of Luverne, Ala.of America.