Local soldier wounded (Prayer Request)

Leavenworth Times ^ | jan 26 2004 | MIKE KRINGS

[bad company]

Local soldier wounded

By MIKE KRINGS, Times News Editor Lansing resident Shirley Gustafson is always glad to hear from her son who's serving in Iraq. However, Monday she wasn't glad to receive a call telling her he had been wounded.

While the news was hard to take, she said she's just glad it wasn't worse.

"We are rejoiced in the fact that it wasn't more serious and that he's coming home," Gustafson said.

Her son, Sgt. Timothy Gustafson, 27, of the Tennessee National Guard, was wounded Monday when a Humvee he was riding in was struck. Shirley said she didn't know many details about what happened, but her son wounded his foot.

She spoke to him by telephone Monday.

"He told me (Monday) that he would lose part of his foot and they might have to amputate more," she said.

Tuesday, she said she learned he was listed in serious condition and was being taken to an Army hospital in Germany.

Gustafson has been serving in Iraq since early November. A 1996 graduate of Lansing High School, he had served in the U.S. Army before becoming a member of the Tennessee National Guard.

"Tim was out of the Army about a year before this war started," Shirley Gustafson said.

His brother, David Gustafson, was also in the Army. At one point, both Gustafsons were stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky. David had served in Iraq as well, but is back home now.

Shirley said that in the time since the brothers were stationed together, it has been hard for them to see one another. Last July, however, David was able to make it home for one day to be at Timothy's wedding. He had been stationed in Korea, but made it back to the states, and was able to arrange a trip home for one day to attend the wedding.

"It was a miracle he got to be there for his brother's wedding," she said.

Shirley said the family is relying on faith and prayer to make it through the ordeal. She has placed his name on the prayer chain at her church, David added his name to the prayer chain at another church, and he has been added to several similar lists.

A prayer chain enlists the prayers of a large group of people. A person will call or e-mail friends and ask them to pray for soldiers.

Shirley said her son is a "firm believer in prayer."

"One thing Tim has always asked is 'please don't forget to pray for the soldiers,'" she said.

[WV Mountain Mama]

Prayers sent.

[Salvation]

Prayers for this entire family as they face this difficult. May the good Lord, Jesus Christ, walk (and fly) with them every inch of the way.

[Salvation]

Prayer Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Prayer Ping List.

Please post your prayers to bad company;

[knighthawk]

Prayers

[FourtySeven]

Prayers for her and her sons!

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Prayers going up!

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

Prayers up for Shirley and Tim.

[Smartass]

Prayer For the Safety of Our Soldiers

Prayer for Sgt. Timothy Gustafson

Almighty and eternal God, those who take refuge
in you will be glad and forever will shout for joy.

Protect these soldiers as they discharge their duties.

Protect them with the shield of your strength and
keep them safe from all evil and harm.

May the power of your love enable them to return
home in safety, that with all who love them, they
may ever praise you for your loving care.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.   Amen.

God Bless You Tim, Thank You For Serving.

[franky]

The Lord be with him

[BlessedBeGod]

Prayers on the way that he be healed quickly and completely!

[lakey]

Prayers for Tim and Shirley, and David, too. God bless and be with this family, and all of our military serving our country.

[fatima]

Shirly,Prayers for your son.I am so proud of him.

[MontanaBeth]

Prayers going out for Sgt. Gustafson complete recovery and prayers for the safety of his brother David. Thank you for your service.

[Bigg Red]

Heavenly Father, watch over this brave soldier. Ease his pain and calm his mind. We ask that You direct his recovery so that he will soon be home with his loving family. Give strength to his mother and the rest of his family so that they can endure this trial.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

[NanaDory8]

I am adding my voice to the wonderful prayer warriors for Timothy Gustafson and his family. May our Lord send healing, strength, and comfort, in Jesus name.

May our Lord send extra protection to our troops left in harms way, We ask our Father in Jesus name. Amen.

[GreenHornet]

My prayers are with this brave young man and his family.

[uppertexasgulfcoast]

On behalf of the family, we really appreciate your putting this on the web. I spoke to Tim tonight, Sat night, and he is in very good spirits; it is great to see that his faith in God has increased and not diminished. Please, you all, keep praying for him as he has some important, life affecting decisions to make and a lot of rehab he will have to do. Also, please continue for my sister, who basically raised the three boys by herself, as their dad wasn't around and the stepdad they had was worse than if they did not have one. Continure to pray for Tim's wife, as well as David and his and for their brother Tom too, that the Lord may use this to bring Tom to Him finally and truely. Tim has talked to several in the hospital about Christ and what He has done for him already; also pray for Tim that he may be a strong witness for our Lord too. Tim when through a hurricane in Mississippi before he went through the one he is going through now, but the Lord is able to bring us through all, even to the very end. Tim, we love you, nephew, pray you will do well, physically, mentally and spiritually and you continue to be in our prayers, keep the faith.

[bad company]

It was my pleasure to put this on FRee Republic. Shirley is a great lady that has raised some fine kids she can really be proud of. (And she is!) We at Free Republic are very proud and grateful for the sacrifices these kids and their families have made for our country. Do you know if Shirley has made it out yet?

[uppertexasgulfcoast]

She flew out Saturday evening (yesterday) to go to see him. Thanks again!