A Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune sergeant who has served two tours of duty in Iraq had a new battle today: boxing in the Olympics.
Sgt. Jamel Herring is the captain of the U.S. Boxing Team, and he competed Tuesday afternoon in the round of 32. He boxed against Daniyar Yeleussinov from Kazakhstan and lost with a final score of 19-9. It is single elimination so Herring will not have any more matches.
Herring is originally from Long Island, NY but now lists Camp Lejeune as his home.
According to Herring's Olympic biography, boxing has been a way for him to cope with family tragedy. Herring's two-month-old daughter died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in 2009. Herring said getting into the ring allows him to escape the problems of life. Happily, Herring has two other children.
Herring is the first Marine Corps boxer on Team USA since Sergio Reyes in 1992.
