[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Debi Staples knew something was wrong when she answered the phone Monday.

Matt told her he'd been hit by shrapnel while he and other soldiers from the Stryker Brigade loaded mortar rounds into a truck.

"I pray for them every night because it's hard. It's hard to have your spouse gone," says Debi. "I don't know how the women are surviving right now, the ones who lost a husband..."

...Matt is in a cast and sling right now, but he expects to recover in Iraq then get back to work with the Stryker Brigade.

---

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 10, 2004

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

     The Department of Defense announced today the Feb. 9 death of two soldiers in Sinjar, Iraq, who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom when a collection of unexploded ordnance, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds detonated while being moved to a demolition point.  Killed were: 

      Sgt. Thomas D. Robbins, 27, Schenectady, N.Y.  Robbins was assigned to Troop A, 1^st Squadron, 14^th Cavalry Regiment (Stryker), Fort Lewis, Wash.

      Sgt. Elijah Tai Wah Wong, 42, of Mesa, Ariz.  Wong was assigned to the 363^rd Explosive Ordnance Company, Army National Guard, Casa Grande, Ariz.

 

       

All gave some.   

     Some gave all.

 

Task Force Olympia

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Y

 

* Help our Walter Reed Hospital Soldiers ~ JOE GALLOWAY 

* http://www.caringbridge.org/wounded/heroes/   

 

 

Stryker Brigade Prayer
A Soldier's Prayer  

 

 

[Texagirl4W]

God bless you Debi Staples. Praying for your husband and family also.

[writer33]

It's always tough when someone's deployed. Personally, my wife hated it. They feel left alone, knowing that their spouse must go perform their duty according to their oath given upon induction.

It's wonderful to know that he's all right. All the more reason to stabilize the area. And yet another reason that I am thankful for people like Matt. A prayer goes out for his speedy recovery. Thanks for the post cowgirl.

Chris

[ClearCase_guy]

This guy is a bigger hero than John Kerry. Kerry got 3 purple hearts and missed a total of 2 days service because of injuries.