This afternoon I went to the local National Guard Armory and picked up my son's Purple Heart Award.

He had a buddy, who came home for his leave, bring it with him.

I have seen hundreds of these awards on tv and in print. Looking at the award up close and knowing that it belongs to my son is challanging to say the least.

I am not certain how I feel. Proud certainly but a little sad as well. If it had happened to me I wouldn't think twice about it but when it is my son, that is a whole lot different.

I have learned to remain quiet. Remain supportive but it sure would make me happier if he didn't have to go through all of this.

One of the tougher things for a parent to learn is to step back and let their kids lead their own lives.

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I don't know if I have missed something, or if you just don't want to talk about it. But may I ask what happened? The last time I read something about a Humvee, but he got out unharmed there, if I recall correctly.

Again, if you don't want to talk about this, just say no. Just interested.

Rock,

He was in the Humvee. He did survive but he was injured. It was last December but I have recently learned that his hand and shoulder still bother him.

He was the driver. They were on duty outside the local Governor's Palace while the Govenor held his monthly meeting with local mayors.

The suicide bomber was heading straight for my son's door (and him). At the very last moment the bomber veered away and got between two of the trucks before detonating. (Thank God.)

The front of the truck absorbed most of the explosion. The heater? I believe was situated over my son's head and it slammed into the truck wall behind him.

He was tossed about. Broke a finger on his right hand as it hit the door to his left. A part of the truck broke free and hit him in the chest. (Kelvar is a wonderful thing as it absorbed a great deal of the impact.) He had a lot of cuts and bruises on his arms and legs from 1)stuff flying around and 2)him flying around the passenger compartment of the truck.

There was fire. And as several Veterans on our website have pointed out to me, it is hard to get those truck doors opened after an explosion so a fire is a very bad thing. The gunner on top of the truck had to be evacted to the States for treatment due to burns.

Overall, the injuries are minor. As I said I thank God for that. It could have been worse. Those that served in Afghanistan and Iraq 3-4 years ago can attest to that.

EDIT-
Now that the medal is here, I am thinking about all those "what could have been" scenarios.

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Thank GOD you have his medal, and he's still here. I know the "what if's" HAVE to keep going through your mind.
He's a brave young man.
My father in law "earned" 3 Purple Hearts in WW 2. My wife got one of them, and it's in the drawer. Every so often, i take it out and look at it.
It's a small reminder of the sacrifices made by those brave people that protect us.
Hopefully your son can someday hand his down to his son or daughter, as a reminder that freedom isn't free. It can have a heavy cost to some. It has that cost to you, as you have to live in the fear of more harm to your son.
He has been, and will remain in my prayers.

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Thanks Alan.

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Thank him for me for doing a job that needs to be done. Screw the media.

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Don't. Take it like your son has. He knows better than all of us, including (dare I say) you, sir.

David will be fine. We all pray for this to be true, and it will be.

Aah, sorry, I thought he came out completely unharmed. Still, thank you for posting this. He'll be ok and, from what you've been telling, I think he believes that aswell.

Yes I agree.
1. That he will be fine.
2. That he doesn't think about it. (He certainly knows more than I as I am the "Sergent Shultz" on this matter IE- "I know nothing". For those who may not know the real star of Hogan's Heros.)
3. That he is taking all of this very well.

Nevertheless, it is not possible to not consider the "what ifs" in life especially when it comes to our children.

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Wayne:

My father flipped the "f" out every time. My father holds the Silver Star from Korea, plus a Bronze Star, as a Marine battery commander alongside a guy that became our eventual Commandant. (I sincerely hope that someone might note that is an extremely difficult combination of awards -- the Corps isn't in the business of taking these things lightly.) (Now I am in the arena of laughing at the doggies for pinning a medal on some moron for throwing a friggin' hand-grenade without killing his Drill Sergeant) HE WOULD ABSOLUTELY HATE THIS WHOLE COMMENTARY. It is not how he rolls, I'm trying to explain how he rolls.

I REALLY, REALLY apologize for this commentary...but the grunts in the Army will get it, and they are ultimately all I care about, doggie-wise.

i Called my dad a REMF mf'er when I got home the first time. I meant it, too. He is still a REMF. He absolutely loved and appreciated that. He is still alive. I have the great gift of telling him that, to this day... I'm not sure who was luckier, on that day and time, but definitely it is me on this day. I hope David gets this great gift of callin' out the old man...He most certainly will deserve it! :thumbleft: