Somewhere between raising hell and amazing grace

Philadelphia paid final respects today to Dr. John Pryor, a local trauma surgeon and Major in the Army Reserves at the University of Pennsylvania. He was killed on Christmas Day by a mortar attack near his living quarters; his family was waiting for a scheduled call from him. He was 42 and leaves behind a wife and three young children.

"In an undated document that Dr. Pryor wrote and left with family before he deployed, he recounted his early affinity for injured people, his passion to serve - specifically in wartime - and the difficulty of balancing his love of country and family, because he felt his decision to go to Iraq was not always supported by those closest to him."

Whatever your thoughts and feelings about the war, you have to respect a man who devotes his life to saving others despite whatever personal cost that decision may bring. Sadly, his death and funeral took a back seat on the news last night and today to the Eagles win over the Vikings in yesterday's wildcard game.

A quote by Albert Schweitzer hung in Major Pryor's office and was said to capture his spirit: "Seek always to do some good, somewhere. Even if it's a little thing, do something for those who need help, something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it. For remember, you don't live in a world all your own. Your brothers are here, too." In addition to being a surgeon and reservist, he also wrote opinion articles in several newspapers, was chief medical advisor to the Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania and conducted disaster-relief training for volunteers.

As an entry on his Legacy.com guestbook said, "All that. In so few years. Thank you, thank you."

I was reading Army Times tonight and saw Spc. Dwyer's story. I hadn't seen the photograph before so I did a few searches to learn more about him (interestingly enough, the first 3 results were an Irish newspaper, a British newspaper, and Rosie O'Donnell's blog). The last line in the UK Telegraph's article hit it home for me because 2T expressed a similar sentiment when he was in town in May for his court appearance:

"I know I don't need to be carrying a weapon. And I'm scared of going home without having one, even though I know probably nobody's going to attack me," he said.

Everytime I read a story like this, I feel a profound sense of loss for someone I never even knew. I know I won't be able to help or save all of them but soldiers like Spc. Dwyer and 2T are why I want to do what I want to do.

For once, Spc. Dwyer wasn't one of the "forgotten ones" who wasn't getting help. He went to the VA, he went to counseling, and yet he was still fighting the demons.

Maybe he can now be at rest.

U.S. Army Task Force Regulators 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment Staff Sgt. Fred Hampton, of Lexington, Ky., kneels on a knee to talk with a young Iraqi boy at the future site of Regular 6 Park in the Thawra 1 section of the Sadr City District of Baghdad on June 20. Photo: Tech Sgt. Cohen Young, Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq.


This reminds me of a picture we got of my cousin when he was out on patrol during his last tour. If you can't see it, the little boy is standing on the soldier's boot since the ground gets so hot. How's that for trust? In Sadr City, no less.

But you still won't hear about or see this on the evening news.


H/T to Military Motivator and Soldiers Angels Germany.

If I asked you who Jason Dunham was, chances are the name wouldn't ring a bell.

But it should.

"On April 14, 2004, 3 days after Easter Sunday, Corporal Dunham was manning a checkpoint in Karabilah, Iraq, when an insurgent leapt from his car and began choking Corporal Dunham. A scuffle ensued as two Marines approached to help. Reportedly, the last words from Corporal Dunham were, “No, No. Watch his hand.” Suddenly, the insurgent dropped a grenade. Corporal Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, dropped to the ground, and covered the explosive as best he could.

The blast seriously wounded all 3 Marines. Eight days later, Corporal Jason L. Dunham died at Bethesda Naval Hospital from wounds he received in the incident. He was 22."

Shortly before deploying, Dunham told Lance Corporal Mark Dean, a fellow Marine, that he was considering extending his enlistment (which was due to end while Dunham was in Iraq) so he could stay in Iraq through the battalion's entire tour, instead of leaving them mid-tour. When Dean asked why, Dunham, an infantry squad leader, replied, "I want to make sure everyone makes it home alive."

U.S. Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham's sacrifice was recognized and he was posthumously awared the Medal of Honor, the 2nd of the Iraq war (the first was Paul Ray Smith).

With all the news you see and hear about the war in Iraq, Dunham's death was probably a mere blip on the national evening news four years ago, if even that. Sadly, the anniversary of his death won't even register on the news today. His sacrifice deserves more than that.

He deserves more than that.

Inspired by Oprah's Big Give, WPVI, the Phila area's ABC affiliate, kicked off a 5-week giving campaign to make a local impact. Liberty USO, aka my USO, is being featured tomorrow, March 31st, from 5pm - 6pm. Our volunteers will be manning the phone lines to explain what we do to help the military and accept your donations.

Liberty USO is 100% donation-supported and receives no government funding. We are open 24/7/365 and support our troops at our HQ service center in the Philadelphia airport as well as Ft. Dix, McGuire AFB, Fort Indiantown Gap, and NASJRB Willow Grove


6abc is kicking off a 5-week campaign to make Oprah's Big Give even bigger! Every Monday, Action News at 5 will highlight a different local charity to show you how it dramatically changes the lives of local people in need. Then, your chance to give is just a call or a click away! From 5-6pm, the 6abc Oprah's Big Give Hotline will be open to take your donations! Viewers can call 1-866-978-4232, or log on anytime to 6abc.com to make a donation, and to learn more about the five charities.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?…


As our donation box at the center says, "You're free to give" so call or log on and help us help our troops.

(Feel free to re-post and pass along!)

So I'm almost finished with Eat, Pray, Love and don't have anything lined up (which is crazy considering the number of books on my wishlist). I usually read chick-lit but I want to read something more...substantial. I feel like I need to be more informed about everything (especially current events) and/or to start reading "the classics."

Give me suggestions on what to read next. I like history, psychology, sociology, biographies. Not a fan of science-fiction.

Even though he didn't ask nicely, the PowerPoint Ranger is a good guy, rather intelligent, and a soldier I respect so check out his comic:

http://www.pptranger.blogspot.com/

Feel free to pass it around, especially to any friends in the military.

LOVE!

I laughed. Hard.