After two-and-a-half years of fighting to re-enlist, a Marine who lost his left hand in Iraq is finally getting the answer he wanted.

Sgt. Ricardo Ramirez became the first Marine amputee to re-enlist with an amputated hand during a ceremony, May 30.

Ramirez, a 26-year-old now with Division Schools, lost his hand when a flash-bang detonated in his hand.

“I went to scratch my head and that’s when I felt the bleeding in my face ... and that’s when I figured out I lost my hand,” said Ramirez, who was 1st Platoon guide with Lima Co. 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines.

Despite his situation, Ramirez still wanted to re-enlist as an infantryman and he was not going to take no for an answer.  He went as far as telling General Michael Hagee, Commandant of the Marine Corps at the time, that he was not ready to quit.

“He smiled and said ‘Well if you can do it, prove it’,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez did prove it, scoring 278 on his physical fitness test and achieving an expert rifle score.  He was determined to do everything any other infantryman could do.

“I have known since I was a kid that I’m not one of those people to sit at a desk,” Ramirez said.  “I had to show to them, in living color, that I can do this.”

While assigned to the Wounded Warrior Battalion, Ramirez did what he could to make it easier for the other wounded Marines.

“He’s a real friendly guy.  He’s always trying to help the younger wounded guys,” said Sgt. Sean K. Webster, who met Ramirez at the Wounded Warrior Center. “You can tell he takes a lot of pride in being a Marine, he takes it very seriously.”

“He’s one of those guys who are forging the way for our younger Marines who don’t know what their options are,” said Cheryl A. Lawhorne, clinical therapist and liaison officer, Wounded Warrior Bn.

Giving Webster re-enlistment advice was just a small part of Ramirez’s effect on the Marines at the Wounded Warrior Bn.  Re-enlistment was not even an option for a lot of injured Marines two years ago.

“The young Marines that are actually engaged in their own care and their own future and have a voice, they are the ones who are teaching us how we can change Marine Corps policy to make sure they get what they need,” said Lawhorne.

Ramirez is not missing a beat as he enters his second enlistment.  Monday he started his pre-sniper course at Division Schools.

“My biggest dream in the Marine Corps has been to be a sniper,” said Ramirez. “If you want something you better go for it. You have your goals; you cannot let them be shattered by anybody.”