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A perfect night for me to share the details of my visit to two brave Soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital that were under the command of mystery-ak's husband 1st Sgt. Mike.
First off, these two soldiers (Spec. Chad Baetke and Sgt Gerald Santos) survived the crash of their Chinook Helicopter after it was hit by a Rocket. Many of their buddies were not as lucky as they were and this will weigh heavy on their minds in the months and years to come. So please keep these two brave men in your prayers.
Around 1:00 Pm I went to Walter Reed to deliver a message and a gift from mystery-ak and her husband to Sgt Santos and Spec Baetke. I went to see Sgt Santos first and I was worried that I might be an imposition or he might not be up for a visitor. I walked into his room and he was sitting upright in a wheelchair and judging by hie recently licked clean dinner plate, he must have just eaten :-)
I introduced myself and shook his hand, I told him that I was a friend of 1st Sgt Mike and was here to check in and see how he was coming along, Sgt. Santos got a big smile on his face and said "How do you know Mike" I told him that him and his wife are FReepers and since I lived in the area I told his wife that I would stop by and see how he was doing.
Sgt. Santos suffered a broken back and a severely broken leg in the crash and seems to be doing quite well considering it was just 4 weeks ago when he was injured. Sgt. Santos said he appreciated all the gifts and cards from the 'Dose" and FR, I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said he was being treated very well and I shook his hand and told him how much myself and the rest of America appreciates what he does for all of us and that I would keep him in my prayers.
I then went to see Spec Chad Baetke and much to my surprise he was in street clothes waiting to get his orders to go home. His parents were their to fly back with him to Iowa. Spec Baetke suffered a broken leg and some serious facial injuries that required steel plates, you would never know it by looking at him, Walter Reed did a great job fixing him up. I told him much the same I did Sgt Santos, I also spoke with Mr. Baetke (Gerald's dad) he was very talkative and told me their entire plans for the Holidays and told me that this Thanksgiving was going to be very special.
It was an honor to visit such great Americans and I will remember this day forever. As I went in and out of the Hospital, I couldn't help but notice all the young men that were missing a limb. One extremely young man was walking out of the hospital with a stainless steel leg smiling from ear to ear, I found it hard to believe that someone who had just lost a leg could be so positive. We are truly blessed to have such brave young men and women willing to sacrifice so much for all of us. I am a grown man that doesn't get emotional too often, but once I got in my car to leave, I had to take a minute to shed some tears for these GREAT AMERICANS.
Before you retire this evening, please pray for the injured of this war, we hear very little about them, but they will have to live with these injuries for the rest of their lives and they need our prayers.
Mike