Co-Worker Wounded in Iraq

[kurt]

Patrick is about 30 and has worked for me for about 4 years. For the past 8 months, he has been stationed in Iraq and was hit with a mortar round on Friday. He took a Dust-off to a field hospital where he was stabilized and airlifted to Germany today. Patrick sustained schrapnel wounds to the chest, abdomen and hand. His wife is also a paramedic here and is on her way to Germany as we speak. I don't know his over-all condition or prognosis, but they were in a major hurry to get Heather going that way.

[Texas T]

I'm sorry to hear it Kurt. I wish him a safe and fast recovery. I met a lot of guys in the Naval Hosp on Guam during Vietnam that had taken a lot of shrapnel; it's amazing how much damage the human body can absorb and still keep on keeping on. Let's hope this is one of those situations.

[Thermalser]

Wishing him the best of luck for a speedy recovery.

[Vee Dub Nut]

I'll be sure to keep him in my prayers

[MuddyPaws]

I hope that he'll come out of it alright. Sending healing thoughts and good vibes!!!

TxMuddyPaws

[Snoopster]

Kurt,

So sorry to hear about your coworker. I hope that Patrick will be okay. I will keep him in my prayers.

[kurt]

Thanks for everyone's thoughts and prayers, here is an update from work on Patrick:

Patrick Phillips has been on deployment with the United States Army in Iraq. His mission has involved protecting convoys as they deliver supplies along Iraq's primary highway.

He was preparing his Humvee to go on a mission on Saturday when the base he was working out of came under an insurgent mortar attack.

Patrick was injured in the attack. The most significant injuries were to his right hand and left leg. He was immediately medevaced to Baghdad where he underwent Emergency surgery. He has since been relocated to Germany where he had more surgical intervention done which included an Orthopedic Specialist working on his hand to repair tendon damage.

Heather has spoken with Patrick numerous times and he is doing well. In true Patrick fashion, he has downplayed his injuries so folks would not worry (he told Heather not to worry about the car registration any more as Purple Heart Recipients do not have to pay it). He actually called Heather when he woke up from his initial surgery in Baghdad and told her he was fine. A little while later, an Army Liaison Officer contacted her and said he was in critical condition, not knowing Patrick had already talked to her.

Patrick is due back stateside at Andrews Air Force Base sometime this week and then he will be transferred close to home at Fort Hood for more surgery and rehab.

They both are very appreciative of the calls Heather has received from everyone and Patrick is looking forward to being back in Texas soon where his friends and family get to harass him in person.

Heather is doing great as is expected (I don’t think Patrick is going to get babied too much when he gets back) and I have had to talk her out of coming back to work immediately (she wants to stay busy while she waits for him to get here). Depending on when Patrick gets back, she will be back soon.

[Tourmeister]

:tab That's great! It has to be really rough for the folks back home. Fortunate for me, when Dad left for his year in Vietnam, I was only four or five days old and don't remember squat, hehe. Had to be rough on Mom though with me and my three old brother, with Dad so far away, and seeing the nightly reports on the news... At least now the families have better communication facilities for keeping in touch. Mom and Dad used to write letters and mail audio tapes to each other. Turn around time was on the order of months, not days.

[Texas T]

Mom and Dad used to write letters and mail audio tapes to each other. Turn around time was on the order of months, not days.
:mrgreen: We did the same thing with our grandparents stateside when we were stationed overseas.