A son graduating boot camp was surprised by his late father’s Marine platoon turning up to his graduation, fulfilling his dying wish.
Two days after Jacob Enderle had been dropped off at boot camp in San Diego, Califonia, dad Brian started to get sick and, after multiple tests, was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
Brian, 48, was Jacob’s hero, having served in the U.S. Marines from 1994 to 1997, and the family kept his diagnosis from Jacob for a short period to allow him to settle.
But after just a six-week battle with his illness, which saw his cancer spread, Brian passed away on November 4, 2022.
The family was devastated, and before Jacob’s graduation on December 11, 2022, the 19-year-old kept thinking about how he wished his father could be there to see him.
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Having gone through the formalities at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, Jacob headed to meet his mom and his sister, Angela Luna, 28, who captured the day on video.
At the graduation, Angela had received a tap on her shoulder, where a person asked, “Are you Enderle?”
Then, suddenly, the rest of Brian’s platoon showed up, ready to congratulate Jacob on his achievement.
Angela said the group had met for a reunion trip in Reno, Texas, a few months earlier, but Brian could not make it because of his illness.
And so, the platoon banded together to be there for Jacob, knowing that Brian’s last wish was to be there for his graduation.
Jacob now wants to work in the infantry, following in his father’s footsteps.
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Angela said: “While we were at Jacob’s graduation, one of the guys from the platoon patted me on the back and asked if we were Enderle.
“Then, all of a sudden, they came by and surprised my brother – Jacob was pretty overwhelmed; he’s not an emotional kid, but I know it meant the world to him.
“The rest of us were all a mess; they kept hugging us and sharing stories about our dad.
“It was a fantastic moment for all of us after we were hurting since our dad died a month before Jacob’s graduation.
“When diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, my dad’s last wish was to make it to graduation, but he, unfortunately, passed before.
“The response to the video online has been excellent, especially from former military personnel.
“It shows that the military is a big family no matter the branch.”
