spdsk8r Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 This morning I received this e-mail from my son (Marine in Iraq) who was injured last Thursday, thought I would pass it along to all those who were praying for him. hi dad, i think im gunna be coming home. everyone here was wondering why i came back when i got here like they were supprised. all the guys looked at me like they had just seen a ghost and i asked them why. they just said i should be. i guess there was nothing left of the humvee. cpl sparkman said we went 30-40 feet in the air from the blast. it was 5 mortar rounds ( 2 155 rounds, 2 130 rounds and a 130mm rocket. he said there was no floor where my feet were and they couldnt find any part of the humvee if front of that other than the engine. the debris was spread over 300m away. my guardian angle was definately looking over me and protected me. mcvicker and raines memorial service is on the 19th so il be here for that. its wierd with them gone. raines used to sleep on the bunk under me and now its empty. i feel like he should be there. my eye is still blurry. everything is on an angle compaired to my other eye too. i think it will be a while until its back to the way it was. well, i gotta get going for now. i hope to see you in a few weeks. chris This is in reference to this thread: http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=104930 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RB26powered74zcar Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 Man that is one sobering email... Just goes to show what our guys are made of... You and your son are in my prayers !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandonsZ Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 That's like "Unbreakable" the movie with Bruce Willis. Freekin' amazing, he must be one of those key people in the grand plan who are supposed to do something with their life that will help mankind. I wonder if drinking beer and watching Powerblock on a sunday counts as helping mankind? I might be unbreakable too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JAMIE T Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 As Joel said... Sobering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 God I love our marines. They're a representation of the small percentage of real men left in this country. I'm honored to know so many marines in the war. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b__sosick Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 We're all glad he's doing ok! Will keep him in my prayers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Rick, You should be proud to have such selfless sons... I would be, for sure. Glad you still have him to hug, and glad we have sons like him in our service... He's made a sacrefice so few can comprehend... God Bless you both! Mike Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted October 15, 2005 Share Posted October 15, 2005 God I love our marines. They're a representation of the small percentage of real men left in this country. I'm honored to know so many marines in the war. Ditto on that. I'm so glad he survived such a vicious explosion. He was divinely protected for sure. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spdsk8r Posted November 28, 2005 Author Share Posted November 28, 2005 This Thanksgiving was very special for us. We finally got my son home just a few days before Thanksgiving Day. Because of politics between branches of service, it took six weeks to get Chris out of Iraq after his injuries. His unit Commander (Marines) kept trying to send him home and some Army doctor in Bagdad kept sending him back to his unit. The last time was back to active duty, even though he has no vision in his left eye. We then stepped in and made some calls and got his Batallion Commander to cut orders to send him home, circumventing the hospital in Bagdad. According to the specialists here, he will need surgery on his eye, tissue grafts to repair the scar tissue on his eye. He also spent those six weeks in a combat zone with NO weapon, flack vest, or Kevlar (helmet). If there was a way to get that doctor in Bagdad reprimanded, I would try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David K Posted November 28, 2005 Share Posted November 28, 2005 Rick, best of luck. I fear for my brother after reading everything. Hes over there for his 3rd time. Its shameful how many times they will send a guy over there. They dont stop sending them into harms way until they get injured or they die. Good news here, looks like my brothers task force will be coming home soon. I know the general dates, but loose lips sink ships! I cant imagine what it would be like seeing out of one eye. Attend to his vision first thing! Good luck to your entire family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop N Wood Posted November 28, 2005 Share Posted November 28, 2005 Good news indeed. With one good eye he will still be able to see the smile on his future childrens faces. Who needs more in this life? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b__sosick Posted November 28, 2005 Share Posted November 28, 2005 I'd also like to see my (future) kids' smiles. but wouldn't mind seeing my car dip into the 11s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 Rick, there are ways to get that Dr. reprimanded... Sounds like you should write your representatives in congress and document everything. There is also zero excuse for why your boy was in a war zone without the proper gear to protect him should an attack on his location have occured. Was your son given a medical discharge or is he just home on medical leave? David, the reason these boys are being sent back for 2nd and 3rd tours is because enlistment numbers are the lowers they've been in quite some time... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spdsk8r Posted November 29, 2005 Author Share Posted November 29, 2005 Mike, my son's back on leave (Camp LeJeune doctors approved convelescent leave), his Batallion Commander finally sent him back to camp LeJeune, circomventing the medical, basically he just cancelled his temporary duty assignment to Iraq. For over a month his commander was trying to send him back on a medical, that is why no new equipment was issued, but every Sunday, when he got to the Bagdad Hospital with his new orders, this doctor would tear them up and send him back to Al Asad airbase. The problem was he had to wait for a flight back, so usually he didn't get back to Al Asad until Thursday evening. Then his commander would start the whole process over. What really upsets me is that this doctor was going to send my son back to active duty with only 172/20 vision in one eye and limited mobility/use of one arm... instead of the needed surgery to his eye to correct the damage and the proper time to let his broken elbow heal. My son has not been given a medical discharged as, with the proper care and treatment he should regain full or close to full capacities. Besides, his four years of active duty is finished in June. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naplesZ Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 Make sure he keeps good copies of all his medical records. Have him check on disability. Even If everything gets back to a 100% he may develop problems down the line that If he has medical record he can apply for disability. Not trying to be a downer but like a lot of veterans he could develop problems later on related to his injuries suffered during his service and If I remember correctly you have to have everything documented in your medical records before you get out to try and claim anything later on. If you already know this then disregard it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 Yup, Make certain he has those records accurately reflect the nature and extent of injuries and current treatment, as well as prescriptions. Just like everything else in life, what works as a "fix" today will be outdated tomorrow or deemed worse than the injury itself for longterm impact... Hard to prove this for a disability claim without the supporting records... Hope your boy takes a good oh, say seven months to heal! Godspeed! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spdsk8r Posted November 29, 2005 Author Share Posted November 29, 2005 I went through the whole disability documentation thing when I got out of the Army many years ago (back injury), so we are aware of what is involved and needed. Chris is now assigned to the Construction Shop on base at Camp LeJeune, or as he calls it "the Marine Engineers retirement home". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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