Madeline Cates Joins Marines To Finish Job Her Fallen Fiance Started (VIDEO)

After her fiance was killed in Afghanistan, Madeline Cates, 21, committed to finishing the mission the love of her life had started.

Cpl Travis Nelson died in August, five weeks after he was deployed, leaving behind a brokenhearted Cates, northescambia.com reports.

"It wasn't suppose to happen," she told the news outlet. "He was the love of my life."

Though grief-stricken, Cates is determined to honor Nelson's memory. She joined the Marine Corps and is scheduled to begin boot camp in March, the same month the two were slated to marry.

"He told me about everything good and bad, so I know a little bit what to expect," Cates told Weartv.com. "I feel the need to finish it. I want to see what he saw, do what he did."

Comments

[plaidsportcoat]

06:02 PM on 12/18/2011

Journalist, WHERE?
Where are they from?
who what when WHERE, etc

[hagagaga]

12:29 PM on 12/07/2011

Seems that this woman has taken the concept of "always faithful" farther than most would.

[jws2346]

09:12 AM on 11/21/2011

This is without a doubt a very brave and commendable thing to do MS Cates, also Semper Fi. I can't help thinking you are putting your life in the same hands as the people that used your loved one for cannon fodder? Good luck and God's speed with whatever you do.

[FromMarineToCop]

06:39 PM on 11/20/2011

I doubt if this is what her fiancee would have wanted her to do. I wish her well. Semper Fi Miss Cates.

[jeffhintx]

02:42 PM on 11/20/2011

Normally I would have agreed with most of the people who were saying she was on a fool's errand but after watching her and listening to what she has to say, and the way she said it I am convinced that she has a solid commitment. Whether or not she makes it through basic training is another guess altogether but she has her head on straight.

I am against our mission over there the way it is right now, it's mismanaged all to hell but perhaps she can do some small thing to save a life, or make the machinery run better. And in doing so she will indeed be honoring that brave young man's memory. I respect the men and women of our armed forces. Their bosses at The Pentagon, maybe not so much, but those boots on the ground have my support.

[intellifran]

09:24 AM on 11/20/2011

Joining the military is couragous, but it's clear she is doing this out of grief. It's going to make her training ten times worse. Good luck to her though. I hope she can heal in the process.

[jeffhintx]

02:35 PM on 11/20/2011

Actually I think it will make the pain better.

[intellifran]

06:40 AM on 11/21/2011

Have you ever been in the military? It will make all that pain, loneliness and sadness rise to the top. It will be difficult.

[ravatar252]

12:17 AM on 11/20/2011

A young American, willing to step up, and shoulder the burden for her fellow citizens. Bravo! Drive on!

[Surly Curmudgen]

10:46 PM on 11/19/2011

From an old long retired Chief, welcome aboard Madeline and if you encounter some one who doesn't like what you are doing, spit in their eye and carry on!

[CSNC]

06:16 PM on 11/19/2011

"WATCH: Fallen Marine's Fiance Enlists To Finish Job He Started"

I am a veteran myself, so I am not belittling our service men and women, but...

There is something very wrong with this woman.

H

[novabird]

08:58 AM on 11/20/2011

I agree. What she is doing is a very unhealthy way to process her grief.

[CSNC]

10:38 AM on 11/20/2011

Yes, novabird.

She is getting all the attention now, so probably believing that she is doing the right thing. Reality shall come soon enough.

H

[javagirl023]

10:59 AM on 11/20/2011

Alcohol would have been much more constructive, eh? Probably her guy would have been honored by her actions--and there are plenty more destructive ways to handle it, and lots crappier reasons to join the service.

[NOT YOUR PASTOR DAVE]

03:49 PM on 11/19/2011

God bless her. She's a true American
I wish her well and safe return

[gmb007]

12:51 PM on 11/19/2011

What does it say about the Marines that they would accept a recruit still in the throes of GRIEF?

[glockman]

01:07 PM on 11/19/2011

Perhaps they weren't aware when she joined. I'm sure she didn't walk into her recruiters office and say "My fiance was a Marine, and he was KIA; so I'm depressed and like to join up."

[EvasDaddy]

01:51 PM on 11/19/2011

Perhaps you should have watched the accompanying video. They clearly stated that the recruiter was "surprised that she would go in there".

She live in a very small Florida town. Everyone knows.

Her mother also commented on the long process of decision. Madeline Cates is not enlisting because of "depression". She is enlisting out of love and commitment, and is completely aware of the ramifications.

Simply put, she is doing what she wants. She's allowed.

[EvasDaddy]

01:34 PM on 11/19/2011

It seems that you may not have seen the video. She's quite lucid about the whole thing.

[gmb007]

12:46 PM on 11/19/2011

I could well be wrong, but if I didn’t know better, I might think her decision could possibly be a deeply-buried, sub-conscious, (disguised) death wish to follow him.

Grief does strange things to people sometimes.

[NOT YOUR PASTOR DAVE]

03:56 PM on 11/19/2011

Youre wrong, she's a brave woman who should be admired for what she's about to do. This is what built this great nation not the whiners complaining they are entitled to other peoples stuff. that is what America broke free from.
She'll come back and hopefully become a senator or congresswoman or maybe president. She's got more integrity and kahonies than whats in washington now

[novabird]

09:02 AM on 11/20/2011

I believe that is exactly why she is doing it - unprocessed grief. Having said that, she will get a great deal of support and admiration for burying her grief and doing what she is doing. There are far too many people all too willing to encourage people to suppress and kill natural human emotions.

[gmb007]

12:30 PM on 11/19/2011

I feel so sorry and truly empathize with this young woman.

However, this is NOT the time to make such a monumental decision, only three months after her fiancé’s death.

GRIEF is NOT the psychological status required for such a life-altering decision. Any such huge decisions, made in the overwhelming passion of the moment, overshadowed by crushing grief or other traumas, rarely turn out well. Massive life changes should only be made under cool, reasoned logic, not colored by still-fresh mourning.

While I understand she wants to honor the love of her life, this is NOT the way to do it. I would guess that her fiancé, were he alive, would absolutely be 100% against her choice. I think he’d tell her the best way to honor his life would be to go on with hers - perhaps help other veterans in need and eventually, down the road, find new love, marry and raise a family. I seriously doubt he’d want the love of his life in the same hell hole that took his life.

While I commend her for her passion and drive, her decision is seriously misguided. She CANNOT “finish the job her fallen fiancé started” in an endless war.

If I were her family, I would lock her in her room for her own safety and well-being till the crushing sting of grief has receded. She’s simply not in the right frame of mind to make such a cataclysmic, potentially life-ending choice.

[glockman]

12:52 PM on 11/19/2011

"However, this is NOT the time to make such a monumental decision, only three months after her fiancé’s death"

Who are you to decide how she handles her grief?

"If I were her family, I would lock her in her room for her own safety and well-being till the crushing sting of grief has receded."

Yes, prevent the adult freedom of movement and choice because you don't agree with her.

I'll bet your pro life, as well.

[gmb007]

12:56 PM on 11/19/2011

My opinion, as well as yours, is valid on this open forum.

Her family has a moral obligation to at least insure she's in a normal, cool frame of mind for such a huge life change. Three short months into grief is not it.

And I'm pro-choice.

[NOT YOUR PASTOR DAVE]

04:08 PM on 11/19/2011

Interesting the "pro life" lash out against gmb007
You seem to think her family should dictate the coarse of her adult life which she has control of, even by force if neccesary, in an effort to preseve her life but seeing as you are pro choice you have no problem with ending a childs life by forcefully terminating it which that child has no option to decide.
Fascinating

[EvasDaddy]

02:02 PM on 11/19/2011

Good post, you make many good points.

I differ with your opinion that Madelilne Cates is acting out of grief, however.

From what I have read and seen, she is fully cognizant of the ramifications of her decision, and is prepared to deal with everything.

I get the idea that she is a highly principled, and strongly determined young woman who will serve honorably and with full dedication. That she will derive emotional closure by experiencing that which took her life's love is the icing on a not very palatable cake.

I understand the desire to block her, to "lock her in a room", but I think you know that doesn't work, particularly with a strong minded young person.

I want her to go, serve, and come home. Somewhere in Pace, Florida there may be a very lucky young man that will have her as his wife.

I'm heartened to think there are many other young people with her sense of commitment.

[NOT YOUR PASTOR DAVE]

04:09 PM on 11/19/2011

Thank you

[Dillon Baseden Heffernan]

11:44 AM on 11/19/2011

This is indeed her choice and nobody else's. That being said it would appear to be a rather poor one. There is a long and proud tradition of going off to war when your relationship ends. Of course usually this is just young men after they have been dumped. Her story would seem to be a sadder variation of this theme.

And before anyone hates, yeah, I served.

[javagirl023]

11:14 AM on 11/20/2011

Thank you for your service.

[StarGazr5992]

11:00 AM on 11/19/2011

What a fool like they will say Okay hunny this was what he was doing here come and finish it ..Nutz