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Michael McNaughton had been all over the globe with the Army and had seen the destruction that land mines wrought in Bosnia, so as soon as he stepped on a mine in Afghanistan, "I knew I lost my leg." That day, Jan. 9, 2003, would surely change his life, but the transformation had actually begun on 9/11, in his sadness and anger over the attacks on the city, and continues still with his resilience, and desire to serve his country. McNaughton grew up in Tarrytown and joined the Army in 1990, at 18. His last duty was at Fort Polk,...

Above is a picture of Mike McNaughton of Denham Springs, LA. He stepped on a land mine in Afghanistan Christmas 2002. President Bush came to visit the wounded in the hospital. He told Mike that when he could run a mile that they would go on a run together. True to his word, he called Mike every month or so to see how he was doing. Well, last week they went on the run, 1 mile with the president. Not something you'll see in the news, but seeing the president taking the time to say thank you to the...

This sounds like a scene from some weepy, bad movie. There's this young Army National Guard sergeant lying in bed at an Army hospital. He's really down. He lost his right leg to a landmine in Afghanistan. Lot of hustle and bustle out in the hall. Someone's coming to visit the wounded. Turns out it's the President of the United States. He stops by the young sergeant's bed. They talk. It's a little awkward. What do you say to a guy that loves to run, loves physical activity, and now his leg is gone from the knee down. But this...

BURLESON - Mike McNaughton left his right leg and two fingers in Afghanistan, thanks to a land mine. He stepped on the mine on Jan. 9, 2003, just two weeks shy of going home to his wife and two children in Denham Springs, La. The injuries have changed his outlook. "I'm a better person now. I used to be a workaholic," he said Tuesday while preparing for his part in patriotic services scheduled for July 3-4 at the Church at Burleson. "Now I understand life a lot more. I'm more appreciative of my kids and the simple things. I have...

I found this story on a blog tonight. I searched to see if it was posted, but found nothing. Presidential Race With the race for the White House well underway, both candidates are making every effort to tell the voters who they are, what they stand for, and how they will perform if elected. I've always been one to try and find out about the person when he/she is away from the podium, how they act and what they say "off camera" speaks volumes for who they are and how they will perform. This letter was forwarded to me, it...

President Bush, fulfilling a 15-month-old promise, jogged around the South Lawn yesterday with a soldier who had been badly wounded in Afghanistan.  Attached is a picture of Mike McNaughton. He stepped on a landmine in Afghanistan Christmas 2002. President Bush came to visit the wounded in the hospital. He told Mike that when he could run a mile, that they would go on a run together. True to his word, he called Mike every month or so to see how he was doing. Well, in early April, they went on the run, 1 mile with the president.

President Bush met with Israel's Prime Minister Sharon (Yahoo quotes) to give "qualified U.S. backing to the Israeli leader's high-stakes proposal to withdraw from Gaza but retain part of the West Bank." Bush "said that Israel has a claim on some West Bank land that Palestinians say is theirs, in a shift in policy that possibly has major implications for Middle East peace negotiations." Text of President Bush's remarks at joint press conference He spoke with Mexico's President Fox via phone concerning Cuba, and the "International Court of Justice" finding that the US violated the rights of 50-plus Mexicans on...

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush, fulfilling a 15-month-old promise, scheduled a jog around the South Lawn Wednesday with a soldier badly wounded in Afghanistan. During a Jan. 17, 2003 visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bush met Staff Sgt. Michael McNaughton of Denham Springs, La. On Jan. 8, McNaughton, a member of the Louisiana National Guard, had stepped on a land mine 30 miles north of Kabul. His right leg had to be removed above the knee, he lost two fingers on his right hand and he suffered shrapnel wounds in his left leg. The president and McNaughton talked...

WASHINGTON - President Bush, fulfilling a 15-month-old promise, scheduled a jog around the South Lawn Wednesday with a soldier badly wounded in Afghanistan. During a Jan. 17, 2003 visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bush met Staff Sgt. Michael McNaughton of Denham Springs, La. On Jan. 8, McNaughton, a member of the Louisiana National Guard, had stepped on a land mine 30 miles north of Kabul. His right leg had to be removed above the knee, he lost two fingers on his right hand and he suffered shrapnel wounds in his left leg. The president and McNaughton talked about...