The rest of the story

[JB]

On this past Wednesday, CNN gave 10 seconds to: "Another convoy ambush in Afghanistan. Four US soldiers injured."<br /><br />Airman Charles Neilsen, Jr. (USAF Special Forces)was driving a Hummer in that convoy. His vehicle was hit by an RPG at high speed and crashed, rolling several times and catching fire. Charles and his three companions were injured in the crash. He crawled out of the wreckage, then pulled his mates out.<br /><br />They were under small arms fire, so Charles grabbed his weapon and returned fire, killing four of the attackers and driving the survivors away.<br /><br />Charles is currently enroute to a USAF Hospital in Germany. He has multiple broken bones, including his right hand, right foot, left shoulder and arm, several ribs and a collarbone. He also has an unspecified injury to his left eye and second and third degree burns. His squadmates all survived with serious injuries. <br /><br />Charles is credited with his own life, as well as those of his mates.<br /><br />Charles' mother recieved a call from A USAF Major yesterday, giving her all of the above details and offering her a plane ticket to Germany to visit Charles as soon as he is there.<br /><br />Charles is from Whitt, and his Mom is my housekeeper.<br /><br />This is the caliber of the men to whom we owe our freedoms.

 

[technostingray]

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Good Post, JB

 

[QC]

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Roger that JB and Ray!!! Give our thanks to your housekeeper!!!<br /><br />Interesting how we hear about the US denying travel assistance to our soldiers, yet we don't hear about the US flying family members to be with their loved ones . . .

 

[KeltonKrew]

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Great Post JB.....<br /><br />we owe everything this country is about to our soldiers no matter what conflict, they are there bravely to keep our beliefs

 

[KaGee]

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Pass on our wishes for a speedy recovery.<br />God Blees him!

 

[JRJ]

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Wishing Charles, his crew and his Mom the best.<br />Glad to hear the AF is helping her get to Germany. <br />Let us know how it goes and thanks for posting.

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

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Best wishes to the Neilsen family, and a speedy recovery to Charles and his fellow servicemen

 

[all thumbs]

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I salute you charles for your sacrifice's, thank you. You are in our prayers. J B, doing the housework yourself now?

 

[alden135]

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My sig. is my post.

 

[JB]

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Update: The USArmy has flown Charles' cousin, Sgt. Steven Armstrong, to Charles location and stationed him 20 minutes away from the hospital, in Heidelberg. Charles and Steven are the same age and have been the closest of companions since childhood.<br /><br />Charles' Mom, Jeanne, said that having Steven closeby is the best thing possible and declined to go, so I don't have to do my own housekeeping. <br /><br />She also sends her heartfelt thanks for the good wishes posted here, and will pass them on to Charles.

 

[JamesCoste]

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Thank you for the "rest of the story". Charles and his fellow soldiers are in my prayers.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

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Another amen and thank you. Please pass along our thoughts.

 

[Link]

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Best wishes to Jeanne and her son. Tell her to let Charles, Steven and the rest know (by telling them in person) we are behind them 100%<br /><br />Link

 

[oddjob]

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Thats great....valor is not so uncommon among the worlds best!

 

[Bob_VT]

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That is Silver Star award merit. I salute that Airman and to his family I say Thank You.<br /><br />Bob<br /><br />Retired Army

 

[12Footer]

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Originally posted by KeltonKrew:<br /> Great Post JB.....<br /><br />we owe everything this country is about to our soldiers no matter what conflict, they are there bravely to keep our beliefs

Dittos, and I thank God there are Americans like him.

 

[heycods]

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Attaboy X10, No Oh sh--s there. IN our prayers. lwr

 

[JB]

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I think I agree with Bob. <br /><br />To pull that off with the multiple and grievous injuries he suffered is the stuff of legend. There are ten seperate fractures in his right hand. . .the one with which he operated his weapon.<br /><br />I also have to believe that he is getting a bit more than the normal GI treatment. The CO of his unit is flying from Seymour-Johnson AFB (NC) to see him. It sounds like VIP treatment to me. He sure is a VIP in my book.<br /><br />Got an update from Steven on Charles' buddies. Broken legs, ribs and other extremities, severe burns but all three are in the ward with him and expected to fully recover.<br /><br />Mini-rant: Why the @#$%^& can't the media tell us about these things instead of the #$%^& body count?

 

[Ron G]

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Makes me proud.and all my prayers with them and all others like him.

 

[treedancer]

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well done .