Judy Peet
STAR-LEDGER STAFF

April 21, 2004. Fallujah, Iraq. As hostilities wound down in one of the bloodiest months of the war, Marine Cpl. Visnu Gonzalez felt invincible.

The 21-year-old gunner was among the first troops into Iraq. He finished his first tour of duty without a scratch and was justifiably arrogant. In his second tour, he was tough, seasoned and absolutely helpless against the sniper's bullets that tore through his neck, shredded his subclavian artery and severed his spinal cord.

READ MORE: http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-14/1246194312288340.xml&coll=1

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