2,1,0, HOME

Our soldier, Jewel, landed at Ft. Bragg, NC around 6 tonight. The mate/Uncle was there to greet her quickly as she was transported to the hospital. About an hour later he got in to see her and give her the roses he brought her.

The damage to the girl is pretty sad. The 3/4" cut on her face is larger than that and has been stitched AND stapled. I hate those staples! Her legs look like she caught a load of rock salt from a double barrel shot gun. Her leg still has no cast on it. She is drugged with morphine and has been now for a week. Demerol is not available...(OK, WHY NOT!) even though there are people for whom morphine does NOT work. (I know, I'm one of them!) So she will have to be weaned off the pain killer soon. But she hurts! The mate says she told him it hurts every time she woke up. Poor Girl!

At least we got our kid back, many don't. She can be repaired, she's young and will heal fast. It's ok., it sucks but it could be way worse.

Mate stayed with her about an hour. Her first Company Commander came to visit her while Mate was there. On the way out he told the mate she was a hell of a good soldier. It really impressed the mate that the man had taken time to come see her when he is going back to Iraq in ten days.

Her Mom and step dad arrived. They only live two hours from the base. The mate went back to his room to get some rest. Instead he called me to report and we talked a while. We both agree she has some serious healing to do before she will be looking for housing off base. I figure a week to ten days in the hospital till they have her off the dope.

Her Dad and step mom are flying down tomorrow. My mate will be coming home probably and we will go back when she is closer to getting out to help her do whatever it is she feels has to be done. We want her to have family around her but not so many she feels crowded.

I feel so much better knowing the mate is there. Her mom is there for her and her Dad is on the way. I wish I could have gone but I will wait and make the next trip and pray in the mean time.

I want to mention that there were an awful lot of people involved in coordinating this for the family and they have all done a wonderful job. I have a new keyboard pal in Iraq I intend to keep up with and the Mate says the Captain is treating him like a king. Every possible kindness has been showed the family.

Below are today's links and I hope you take the time to read them. There are tears, grief, laughter and information in them that you can only find on the net.

May I also add the IM and email have made keeping in touch with our soldier so much more "real time" that I say a prayer for the computer system, too. That we can turn on and "talk" to the soldier across the world has been a comfort for all of us. I am sure it is a comfort to the soldiers, too.

I know I have been craming on this topic but it is important to our integrity as Americans that we provide for those who have sacrificed their lives or parts of their bodies and minds for you and I. How about "No soldier left behind"?

"Military statistics as of June 8, 2005 show that 12,762 American soldiers have been wounded in the conflict in Iraq and 1,674 have been killed. According to a spokesman at the Pentagon, the disparity between the two numbers has created a severe backlog in medical board hearings."

Photos
Milblog
True Story
Our Heros
Heros here!
More Heros
Milblog w. LINKS
A Hard one to read
Purple hearts and bruises
This Blogger Wounded June 05
Has your soldier been in the news?