Elmer's Brother

The Opinion Journal thought it worth highlighting an uplifting story of a parent's response to a son's death in Iraq. Nathan Krissoff, a Marine first lieutenant, died in Anbar in December 2006 at 25, prompting his 61-year-old father, Bill, an orthopedic surgeon, to join up, reports the Union of Grass Valley, Calif.:

Now the fallen Marine's father is committed to a mission, one that carries even more than the memory of Nathan. Krissoff's youngest son, Austin, is also an officer in the Corps.

"Both my sons were hugely affected by the events of 9/11, and Nate was proud to serve in the Marines, as Austin is," Krissoff says. "I share their views."

So he is closing his Truckee practice, leaving his Reno home, relocating to San Diego and taking on a brand new persona, that of Navy Lt. Commander.

Though 19 years over the Navy's official age limit, Dr. Krissoff will serve as a Navy surgeon for three years.

"My interest in Navy medicine," Krissoff says, "was because they take care of Marines."

Like Mrs. Sheehan, Dr. Krissoff met with the president, though that is where the similarity ends:

Because 42 is the Navy's age cutoff for medical officer enlistees, Krissoff was initially told that joining would be a difficult and lengthy process. So he pressed the issue and asked for the needed waiver from the highest authority he could find - President Bush.

Krissoff met Bush in August at an American Legion convention in Reno. . . . Krissoff says Bush asked each family what he could do for them.

Krissoff told the president he wanted to serve. . . . Krissoff says he pressed Bush about the matter with humor.

" 'Sir, I'd like to serve but they told me I'm too old, but I'm younger than you, sir,' " Krissoff says, telling the story with a rare grin.

Thanks to White House intercession, Krissoff quickly got an age waiver. If only he got as much attention as a certain antiwar malcontent.