Saints Can Now Send in Marine

Amid the throng of parents and friends waiting for the 3rd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment to return from Iraq in October 2004, Hank Hart and his wife found an easy way to get their son's attention: They waved lacrosse sticks in the air.

Lacrosse had always been special for John Hart. It began with his being named the most outstanding player for Mount Vernon High in 2003. It remained so through both of his seven-month deployments to Iraq.

And it still is special for him in his current role as a 22-year-old freshman defensive midfielder for Marymount, a Division III program.

The Saints (6-9) have one game remaining, against Lynchburg on April 26. Their season will be remembered for two one-goal losses and two two-goal losses -- and because it may be the only college team that boasts a player who has earned a Combat Action Ribbon.

"He's open about it, but not overly so," Coach Jon Reynolds said. "He was working out a few times in a tank top, and he has tattooed on his ribs his information about his batalion and other vital information. I think that's when guys found out [about his background] and started asking him about it."

Needless to say, Hart's path to college lacrosse was not a typical one. After a chance to play at Division I Virginia Military Institute fell through following his senior year at Mount Vernon, Hart enlisted in the Marines.

He was the latest in his family to serve: His older brother was in the Marines, his father fought in Vietnam and his grandfather fought in World War II.

John Hart was deployed to Iraq in March 2004 and was stationed in Saba, on the Syrian border.

Hart's parents sent him lacrosse sticks while he was in Iraq. He would ask those in his batallion if any of them had heard of lacrosse. If they said yes, he immediately asked them to throw the ball around with him. He also played when he was home and drove two hours to play in an informal military league in Los Angeles while he was stationed at Twentynine Palms in the Mojave Desert.

After he returned from his second deployment, to Ramadi, in April 2006, Hart left the Marines and focused on playing college lacrosse.

"A lot of the other guys [in his batallion] were out getting jobs," Hart said. "It's a little different being in college because you get used to getting paid and having a job. In some ways, it's almost a step back."

Hart enrolled at Towson, which has a Division I program, but was cut from the team. Coach Tony Seaman did suggest a few Division III programs for Hart to contact.

Marymount was the first on the list. And Hart's online questionnaire found a receptive audience: Reynolds had coached Yorktown High when it lost to Mount Vernon in the National District title game in 2003. Hart scored seven goals in the game.

Hart enrolled at Marymount for the spring semester. And he found that his name preceded him, though little else did.

"He had the game of his life against us at Mount Vernon," said Nick Shay, a junior defenseman and graduate of Yorktown High. "When I heard he was coming here, I knew he was three years older than me and I wondered why he was coming in as a 22-year-old freshman."

Hart's workout clothes hint at his previous life -- he often wears U.S. Marine Corps T-shirts and shorts. He said he is still getting the rust out of his game, though he has played in eight games and has one goal.

"He never lost his focus to play lacrosse," Hank Hart said. "When [Reynolds] said it was possible for John to play for him, that's all John wanted to hear."