Cpl. Christopher Farias received a Father’s Day surprise after he threw out the first pitch at the Dodgers game on Sunday — his dad was behind the catcher’s mask.
Farias thought he was throwing out the first pitch as “veteran of the game,” but there was a bigger plan in action. According to his dad, this was the first Father’s Day in eight years that the 11th Marines Field Artillery School instructor wasn’t called away on duty. So he hid behind the catcher’s gear and got behind the plate to catch his son’s ceremonial first pitch.
Farias, based in Dodger-territory at Camp Pendleton, Calif., said he could tell it was his dad as soon as he caught the ball and started walking towards him. Check out the video capturing the surprise.
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Farias was one of two California-based Marines to receive the Navy Cross last month, the nation’s second-highest award for combat valor.
Farias and his squad were ambushed the night of Oct. 5, 2010 in Afghanistan’s Kajaki district in northeastern Helmand province. Farias suffered a concussion and was wounded by shrapnel but stayed in the fight. He braved enemy fire on a rooftop so casualties could be evacuated. Farias kept fighting until an airstrike ended the engagement. He then walked on his own, wounded, more than a mile to the ground evacuation site.
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he deserves a standing ovation