Merry Christmas! It's actually 4 hours and 15 minutes away from Christmas here in Yusufiyah but I'll be busy then and unable to send holiday cheer. Spirits seem to be very high as I look to my left and right here in the internet cafe. Someone out of sight behind me is listening to some rap music and others can be heard joking around. There's nothing to indicate that we lost another soldier just over 24 hours ago. I woke to the same smell of burning trash and to the same hum of a nearby generator but I knew what day it was and I had to hurry if I wanted to e-mail you all. I'll be on shift when midnight rolls around both here and at home and when my mission allows I'll think of you all. I'll also be thinking of one of my own, Specialist JS. J is with his brother in Germany right now on his way to Walter Reed Army Medical Center. His brother was recently wounded by an IED resulting in the amputation of his right arm and leg in a separate incident from that which took a soldier from us yesterday. This is actually an uplifting story to me. It's the story of how a medic, helicopter crew and a hospital performed a miracle. The S brothers are from Florida and share infectious smiles as well as bald heads. They also share the same Infantry Battalion but serve a few miles apart. They always search each other out when one brother comes in for refit and it usually ends with some new tales of intrigue shared. A few nights ago, Sergeant S was wounded badly and the quick actions of a young medic stabilized him after his body was pulled from the cold waters of a canal. I phoned in the MEDEVAC request and the helicopter arrived faster than any of us could have hoped. The helicopter crew replaced much of his lost blood enroute to the hospital and maintained his stability. The hospital put him back together. Our chain of command allowed me to escort SPC S and the Chaplain to the hospital. When Sergeant Shirley woke from his surgeries to find his brother standing over him, everyone just kind of knew it would all be alright. I had a chance to meet the surgeons, I talked to the guys who fix broken soldiers. We owe so much thanks to the troops who work at the 28th Combat Support Hospital. Every single soldier there was friendly, helpful and reverent. My best Christmas wishes go out to those guys who have allowed my soldier, J, to spend Christmas supporting his kid brother sporting his new Purple Heart pinned to a bandage.
[names trimmed to protect privacy]
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