When the hero's come home....

[LiberalinNC]

NEW BERN - The community is building Sgt. Eric Edmundson and his family a free home in a waterfront Craven County subdivision, but he can't say thank you.
The 26-year-old soldier was wounded Oct. 2, 2005, by a bomb that exploded under the Stryker armored vehicle he was driving beside the Euphrates River in western Iraq. As he waited for an evacuation flight to Germany, his heart stopped and, before doctors could resuscitate him, his brain was damaged. Now he can't eat, drink, walk or talk.

Edmundson can answer simple questions by moving a foot toward flashcards that say "yes" and "no," and his family knows that he comprehends at least part of the story of the house.

link: http://www.newsobserver.com/505/story/536401.html

[SaveAmerica]

1. Hey Lib, can you add the other local soldier stories to your thread?

There's a story there about a little girl whose mother, father and step father are all stationed in Iraq and she's left behind with a family friend. I was able to copy this part of the story about the sgt. from the 82nd who died in Iraq but it started asking me to register before I could copy the links. Thanks for letting us know about our soldiers, this is getting unbelievably surreal. The Airborne SGT who died was there for his 4th tour.

His widow, Dody Callahan, said in a statement, "Keith was a loving husband, father, son, son-in-law, brother, brother-in-law, friend, and soldier. Keith was a sports enthusiast and a Bragg two-time boxing champion, earning the nickname Bam-Bam Callahan.

"His paramount concern was always his children and family, to include his military family. Keith loved his soldiers and his dedication to duty lasted to the end shown by the fact that he gave his life to protect his soldiers. He would now want his soldiers to bravely forge ahead in this mission and continue his legacy.

"He would also want the American citizens to support his wife, children, and fellow soldiers at this most difficult time. What Keith would not tell you is that he is a hero; but ... he is a true American hero and that is how our family wishes that he be remembered."

Callahan had three previous deployments in Iraq beginning in March 2003.

[LiberalinNC]

2. Sure..here's the link to the 9 year old who's parents are serving...

Link: http://www.newsobserver.com/664/story/536193.html

FAYETTEVILLE - They have all left 9-year-old Breanna Bodden now -- mother, father, stepfather -- to fight in Iraq.
Breanna's stepfather, Fort Bragg soldier Ted Hagler, left in July. Her mother, Army Reservist Rebecca Hagler, headed overseas Oct. 1. Her father, Marine Capt. Henry Bodden, shipped out Wednesday. Breanna has been left with a family friend, Deborah Clark.

Clark lives in the Anderson Creek community, where children in the neighborhood call her grandma. She started the Anderson Creek Girls Club, a place for lonely children.