Gen. Eric Smith, the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, made his first public appearance in a video after recovering from cardiac arrest, reassuring Marines of his commitment to bounce back. Smith, who experienced cardiac arrest in late October, expressed his determination to return to duty, drawing parallels to his recovery after being shot in 2004. His message was one of resilience and gratitude, especially ahead of Thanksgiving, emphasizing the values and challenges of being a Marine.
  

Key Points 

1. Gen. Smith’s Recovery: Following his cardiac arrest over three weeks ago, Gen. Eric Smith appeared in a video, standing in uniform, to update Marines on his health and recovery.
2. Past Resilience: Smith referenced his past resilience, particularly when he was shot in 2004 and continued serving in Iraq, indicating a strong determination to recover from his current health setback.
3. Thanksgiving Message: In his video and Instagram post, Smith expressed gratitude for the Marines’ support and reflected on the significance of Thanksgiving for reaffirming commitment and values.
4. Marine Corps Leadership During Recovery: In Smith’s absence, Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl initially performed the duties of Commandant, followed by Gen. Christopher Mahoney after his confirmation as assistant commandant.
5. Future Plans: Despite not being back to full duty, Smith is preparing for a procedure to fix a congenital heart abnormality and has expressed eagerness to return to work.

Source: https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2023/11/21/ill-bounce-back-top-marine-vows-in-1st-video-since-cardiac-arrest/