[pct-l] Fw: A True Hero

Sun Nov 12 13:35:57 CST 2006

Reinhold,

Thank you so much.  This Veterans' Day had entirely different meaning to me and to our family in light of the recent events we've experienced with our son, Tom.  I can't say enough about the kindness and caring that you and so many of the PCT-L members shared with me.  It means so much to us.

Tom is currently at Walter Reed Hospital in D.C., being treated for combat stress.  He arrived there Friday night.  Being sent there is not something you volunteer for or ask for; they send you when they see signs indicating there is something wrong, and your CO determines it's impacting your ability to perform your job, much as they would with any physically visible wound.  We are deeply concerned about him, yet extremely grateful he is not in Iraq any more.  We are especially appreciative that the Army both recognizes and provides treatment for wounds of this nature.  Walter Reed is an world-renown hospital, and we couldn't ask for better or more knowledgeable care.

I wrote recently about the explosion and subsequent skirmish, air strike, and the rescue of Tom's sergeant.   What I didn't know at the time I learned of this was that this wasn't the first IED explosion to hit Tom's unit -- it was the fourth, and that their unit was hit three days in a row by bomb blasts.  Since he arrived in Baghdad around September 1, he had been on over 50 missions.  The missions average 10-12 hours a day, and they go out six days a week, at all hours around the clock. The exhaustion, tension, and fear drove one member of Tom's unit to kill himself -- he shot himself in the head while on patrol.  It's hard to imagine the level of stress our troops are experiencing, as I could hardly bear the weight of the knowledge that my one and only child was in a raging war zone.  The news these past few days about the death toll has been absolutely horrific, and I cry every time I hear of the senseless death of our soldiers. 

We don't know what will happen next, or what they will do with Tom.  Truthfully, we really don't have any sense yet of how severe the condition is, or what exactly happened over there to bring about this turn of events.   But grey clouds have silver linings; for now he is safe and in caring hands. 

Thank you to all of the veterans out there who have suffered the ravages of war.  Thanks also goes out to those who take a stand against war.  Our thoughts and prayers will forever be for those who serve anywhere and everywhere. We also pray for the non-insurgent innocent people of Iraq whose lives, livelihoods, and homeland are being destroyed.  But most of all we pray for peace and an end to the war.

-=Donna Saufley=-

-----Original Message-----
>From: Reinhold Metzger <reinholdmetzger at cox.net>
>Sent: Nov 12, 2006 12:23 AM
>To: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net, Deems <losthiker at sisqtel.net>, Monte Dodge <montedodge at msn.com>, Hiker97 at aol.com, Bighummel at aol.com, jerrygoller at backpackgeartest.org, dsaufley at sprynet.com, Bill & Cathy <tahoe.cat at verizon.net>, AaABat <AsABat at 4jeffrey.net>, Travis metzger <travismetzger at hotmail.com>, Paul Bernheisel <Paulafcee at aol.com>, Steve D Wilson <stevewilson1 at juno.com>, Lisa A Bernheisel <labern at sdcoe.k12.ca.us>, Metzgercrew at aol.com, Robert Metzger <rmetzger14 at juno.com>, mat masterson <lsmbam at netzero.net>, archer1933 at sbcglobal.net, clair234 at cox.net, rbarber3 at san.rr.com, CorvetteCityUSA1 at aol.com, l.wooten at sbcglobal.net, "Frederic L. Tolleson" <ftolleson at earthlink.net>
>Cc: Reinhold Metzger <reinholdmetzger at cox.net>
>Subject: Fw: [pct-l] A True Hero
>
>I know this is not exactly on topic but being that it is Veterans Day, and
>many of our fellow hikers are veterans and Donna's son Tom is a medic in a
>combat unit in Iraq, I believe this post is appropriate.
>
>The following are excerpts from two articles in today's San Diego Union.
>
>''Cpl. Dunham did not hesitate. He jumped on the grenade to protect his
>fellow Marines.  He used his helmet and his body to absorb the blast.''
>
>Dunham, who died eight days after throwing himself on the grenade to save
>the lives of two of his comrades on April 22, 2004, will be awarded the
>Medal of Honor.
>
>''Dunham would have been 25 years old yesterday, which was the Marine Corps
>231st birthday. A s long as we have Marines like Cpl. Dunham, America will
>never fear for her liberty.''
>
>Cpl. Dunham served in the 7th Regiment of the 1st Marine Division, the same
>unit I served in, in Vietnam, 40 years ago.
>            ----------------------------------------
>''With every award received and every news story published, Petty Officer
>3rd Class Nathaniel R. Leoncio is becoming a military legend.
>
>It began with his bravery on Oct. 4, 2005, in southern Ramadi.
>The Navy Corpsman was serving as a medic for a Marine unit on patrol when a
>series of roadside bombs struck their convoy. The explosions killed one
>Marine and seriously injured three other men, including Leoncio.
>At least two bombs detonated under the 6-ton Humvee that carried Leoncio,
>flipping it upside down and on top of him, severing his right leg just below
>the knee.
>Although his right thighbone was shattered and he was bleeding internally,
>Leoncio refused to be evacuated. He ignored his wounds and cared for a
>severely injured Marine, likely saving the man's life.....
>''Doc'' Leoncio was spitting up blood, he had shrapnel in his stomach, and
>had lost so much blood, he had every right to be worried about his own
>injuries, but he wasn't.
>So he wouldn't bleed to death, Leoncio calmly told a marine to tie a
>tourniquet on his injured leg. As he gave the instructions, Leoncio treated
>a platoon commander who was bleeding profusely from a fist-sized shrapnel
>wound in his hip.
>Capt. Rory Quinn, who was riding in a Humwee behind Leoncio's, described
>what it took to get the corpsman to leave the scene.
>We had to lie to ''Doc'' and tell him all the Marines had been taken off the
>battlefield before he would allow himself to be moved....
>At the April 6 award ceremony at Camp Pendleton, where he was awarded the
>Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device, ''Doc'' Leoncio said the
>following:          ''We'd do anything for each other.   I love my Marines.
>They saved my life that day.''
>
>Is it any wonder why  the medic, corpsman, or ''Doc'' is the most beloved
>and respected member of any combat unit?............Their selfless
>dedication to care for and save the lives off their comrades is legendary.
>
>Yes, I'm proud of  ''Doc''  Leoncio & ''Doc'' Tom and all of our troops and
>servicemen, active or retired, where ever they may be.
>
>THANK YOU FOR SERVING YOUR COUNTRY AND HAPPY VETERANS DAY
>
>  Semper Fi!
>JMT Reinhold Sgt. USMC 1964-68
>Your trail companion and support our troops crusader
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Reinhold Metzger" <reinholdmetzger at cox.net>
>To: "'PCT-L'" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 2:20 AM
>Subject: [pct-l] A True Hero
>
>
>> DONNA,
>> Having served in the USMC in Vietnam and my son doing two tours of duty in
>> Iraq and Afghanistan as a Ranger and the Special Forces I know how you, as
>a
>> mother, must feel.
>> Yes, there should be better reasons for being proud of your son yet, there
>> is no act more noble than serving your country during a time of war and
>> risking your life to save the lives of your comrades, that is what heroism
>> is all about and being a medic in a combat unit, you can be assured that
>Tom
>> is the most beloved and liked member in his unit.
>> Everybody loves  '' DOC'',  as we called him in the Marine Corps, he
>always
>> has something to make you feel better when you are in pain and is always
>> there to bandage you up when you are wounded risking his life to save your
>> life.
>> He could have been hiking the PCT..........He chose to serve his country
>> instead...........A real live action hero and patriot.
>>
>> YES  I  AM  PROUD  OF  TOM  AND  ALL  OF  OUR  TROOPS  WHEREVER THEY  MAY
>> BE
>>
>> Semper Fi!
>> JMT Reinhold
>> Sgt. USMC 1964-68 and support our troops crusader
>>
>