I was reading the article "Support our Troops - Fighting for Freedom" Contributed from Iraq. [New page ~ IRAQ 5/19/2005]   In our church last Sunday we received a brother who just came back from Iraq and we are celebrating our Lord kept him safe and protected him with his Great Power. We believe our Lord fought his war and delivered help from heaven to protect him from being touched by the enemy. We have three fellow Christians fighting the war against the terrorists.

Here we keep praying for our marines, soldiers, airmen and sailors. As you may know, there are thousands of Puerto Ricans fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. This week we received the bodies of two fallen comrades, but we are encouraging our soldiers to fight hard against our enemies every time we see them leave to the frontlines.

War is not a desirable thing, but anytime we are requested to defend our way of life, we will go.

Best regards,
W. P. (Puerto Rico)

06/09/2005

Hi, Diana:

Today we received news from Afghanistan.  One of my neighbors was killed by a mortar attack.  He was dismounting equipment with other fellow soldiers from a cargo plane (C-130) and they were attacked.  He was killed yesterday.

Today there was a funeral of another Puerto Rican soldier killed in Iraq.  He was also hit by a mortar round while protecting with his body another soldier that was previously wounded by another mortar round.  Last week there was a funeral of a marine mayor who was also killed in Iraq (his chopper was hit by some kind of missile).

As you may know, our island is sending our brothers, sons, uncles, fathers and friends to fight bravely.  My family has a great military tradition since World War II.  We've been in the Air Force, Army and US Marine Corps.  None of my family members is been in the Navy.  Here we consider a very noble cause to be in the military, so we feel very proud when our brothers, sons, cousins and uncles join the US Armed Forces.

We feel very sad when our soldiers are killed in action, but this is the greatest sacrifice to preserve peace and to defend our way of life.

God bless you and may God protect our brothers, those who are fighting in the dessert battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan,

W. P. (Puerto Rico)

Passing of a Generation, Won't Be Long And They Will Be Gone.
From a Military Doctor

I am a doctor specializing in the Emergency Departments of the only two military Level One-trauma centers, both in San Antonio, TX and they care for civilian Emergencies as well as military personnel.  San Antonio has the largest military retiree population in the world living here. As a military doctor, I work long hours and the pay is less than glamorous. One tends to become jaded by the long hours, lack of sleep, food, family contact and the endless parade of human suffering passing before you. The arrival of another ambulance does not mean more pay, only more work.  Most often, it is a victim from a motor vehicle crash. Often it is a person of dubious character who has been shot or stabbed. With our large military retiree population, it is often a nursing home patient.

Even with my enlisted service and minimal combat experience in Panama, I have caught myself groaning when the ambulance brought in yet another sick, elderly person from one of the local retirement centers that cater to military retirees. I had not stopped to think of what citizens of this age group represented.

I saw "Saving Private Ryan." I was touched deeply. Not so much by the carnage, but by the sacrifices of so many. I was touched most by the scene of the elderly survivor at the graveside, asking his wife if he'd been a
good man. I realized that I had seen these same men and women coming through my Emergency Dept. and had not realized what magnificent sacrifices they had made. The things they did for me and everyone else that has lived on this planet since the end of that conflict are priceless.

Situation permitting, I now try to ask my patients about their experiences. They would never bring up the subject without the inquiry. I have been privileged to an amazing array of experiences, recounted in the brief minutes allowed in an Emergency Dept. encounter. These experiences have revealed the incredible individuals I have had the honor of serving in a medical capacity, many on their last admission to the hospital.

There was a frail, elderly woman who reassured my young enlisted medic, trying to start an IV line in her arm. She remained calm and poised, despite her illness and the multiple needle-sticks into her fragile veins. She was what we call a "hard stick." As the medic made another attempt, I noticed a number tattooed across her forearm. I touched it with one finger and looked into her eyes. She simply said, "Auschwitz." Many of later generations would have loudly and openly berated the young medic in his many attempts. How different was the response from this person who'd seen unspeakable suffering.

Also, there was this long retired Colonel, who as a young officer had parachuted from his burning plane over a Pacific Island held by the Japanese. Now an octogenarian, his head cut in a fall at home where he lived alone. His CT scan and suturing had been delayed until after midnight by the usual parade of high priority ambulance patients. Still spry for his age, he asked to use the phone to call a taxi, to take him home, then he realized his ambulance had brought him without his wallet. He asked if he could use the phone to make a long distance call to his daughter who lived 7 miles away. With great pride we told him that he could not, as he'd done enough for his country and the least we could do was get him a taxi home, even if we had to pay for it ourselves. My only regret was that my shift wouldn't end for several hours, and I couldn't drive him myself.

I was there the night MSgt. Roy Benavidez came through the Emergency Dept. for the last time. He was very sick. I was not the doctor taking care of him, but I walked to his bedside and took his hand. I said nothing. He was so sick, he didn't know I was there. I'd read his Congressional Medal of Honor citation and wanted to shake his hand. He died a few days later.

The gentleman who served with Merrill's Marauders, the survivor of the Bataan Death March, the survivor of Omaha Beach, the 101 year old World War I veteran, the former POW held in frozen North Korea, the former Special Forces medic - now with non-operable liver cancer, the former Viet Nam Corps Commander. I remember these citizens.

I may still groan when yet another ambulance comes in, but now I am much more aware of what an honor it is to serve these particular men and women.

I have seen a Congress who would turn their back on these individuals who've sacrificed so much to protect our liberty. I see later generations that seem to be totally engrossed in abusing these same liberties, won with
such sacrifice.

It has become my personal endeavor to make the nurses and young enlisted medics aware of these amazing individuals when I encounter them in our Emergency Dept. Their response to these particular citizens has made Me think that perhaps all is not lost in the next generation.

My experiences have solidified my belief that we are losing an incredible generation, and this nation knows not what it is losing. Our uncaring government and ungrateful civilian populace should all take note. We should
all remember that we must "Earn this."

Written By CPT. Stephen R. Ellison, M.D. (If you send this story along to friends, please include the author's name. Thank you!)



  A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.
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Pray for Our Troops

One of our flint knapper friends sent an email to me regarding
praying for our troops.
He is right, this is serious for our nation.

Prayer Wheel:
Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform
for us in our time of need.
I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Prayer Wheel:
When you read this, please stop for a moment and say
a prayer for our troops around the world.

Remind yourself, your family, your friends & co-workers, to do this daily.
Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine
and others deployed in harm's way, Your time in prayer is the very best one.
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