Posted on 08/14/2005 7:34:43 PM PDT by madison10
SYLVANIA -- Army Specialist Matthew Drake still feels the pain every day from a suicide car bomb that cut short his service in Iraq. But now with some donations and help from a lot of people, he'll get out of the hospital, and back home with his parents.
Four other soldiers in the unit died the day Drake was wounded. He was part of the Psychological Operations unit, communicating with civilians in Iraq, delivering messages regarding surrender and safety. Matthew remembers the unit's motto well. "Win the mind, win the day," said Drake.
After months of treatment and rehabilitation, the 21-year-old will be able to come back home to Sylvania. "When he comes back home, Matthew is going to come back home to an environment that is comfortable for him, that works for him to get around," said Matthew's mother Lisa Schuster.
Matthew will move into an 800-square-foot addition at the family home, an addition more like an apartment that was the brainchild of 10 year old Drew Savage. "His family told us what he needed. We got the plan together and started raising money," said Drew. The young man said he just wanted to do something for a local soldier who paid a high price defending freedom...
(excerpted for space)
My heart goes out to those heros wounded in war..........but stories like this are just so wonderful to read :)
If anyone can get word to this Marine, Homes For Our Troops is a great organization doing work for men like Matthew.
Your post was removed because material from Toledo Blade needs to be excerpted.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1111944/posts
If you'd like, you can repost an excerpted version of the article along with a working link.
Sylvania: Addition for wounded soldier at permit phase
By MIKE JONES,(Toledo)BLADE STAFF WRITER
The request to Sylvania's Board of Zoning Appeals for a permit to build an addition to a house on Brainard Drive was routine, but those who have rallied around a Sylvania resident severely wounded in Iraq were still enthusiastic about its approval.
Before Matthew Drake enlisted in the U.S. Army, he lived in his own room in the basement of the family home. But with his mobility problems now, that will no longer be possible.
The addition to his mother Lisa Schuster's house...(excerpted)
Matthew Drake, Sylvania (Ohio) resident, severely injured in Iraq on Fri. Oct 15, 2004.
This is a link to a short pictorial story of Matthew’s long road home since the bombing on 10-15-04 critically wounded him in Iraq.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.