Vets groups raise funds for hard-hit Guardsman

[unhappycamper]

Vets groups raise funds for hard-hit Guardsman
By Betsy Taylor - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Nov 17, 2008 22:21:38 EST

ST. LOUIS — Spc. Glenn Barker is trying to recover after suffering a traumatic brain injury while serving in Iraq, the death of his 15-year-old son earlier this year, and flood damage that left his home uninhabitable.

On Monday, the American Legion Heroes to Hometowns program and the Missouri Veterans Commission asked for the public’s help to raise $63,000 to help Barker. The money would be spent on home repairs not covered by insurance and the purchase of a used trailer he can live in temporarily and later use as a work space.

Barker, 41, lives outside the east-central Missouri town of Potosi. He deployed with the Arkansas National Guard to hunt down improvised explosive devices in Iraq, and said he lived through nine detonations while driving an armored vehicle looking for roadside bombs.

The worst explosion came in August of last year, he recalled, when he ran over homemade explosives buried in a road. He suffered back injuries, a perforated ear drum and a traumatic brain injury that wreaked havoc on his short-term memory.

“The left ear is pretty much done,” he said, gesturing to that side of his head.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_wounded_soldier_111708/%2e