Correspondent: Wounded Warriors Continue to Inspire

Wounded Warriors Continue to Inspire
Editor, Times-Dispatch: I went to the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda to visit a friend who was wounded in Afghanistan via a gunshot to his face and ended up having a major stroke. He is a member of the Special Forces of the Marines Corps.

While visiting this sergeant in Bethesda, we were amazed by the stories from parents visiting their loved ones. Each story was sadder than the other, and seeing parents who have been there months while their loved ones have had 15-20 surgeries just breaks your heart. Aaron has been here at our VA hospital now for two weeks.

Whether you're conservative or liberal, one thing that is clear is the constant news of deaths in Afghanistan or Iraq; however, we never hear stories about injured soldiers and Marines. Why is nobody in the media or the White House telling the stories of these great American heroes?

If it weren't for the 24-7 care by his mom and sister, Aaron wouldn't have survived his first two weeks in Bethesda. Someone slept in his room, continually suctioning his trachea and providing round-the-clock care. Communication was a big problem since his jaw was wired, he couldn't speak, and has been on a feeding tube. Mom went home last week, siblings come in periodically, but Rachel and her infant have been there for a month.

Nobody sleeps in his room overnight now and our brave Marine is receiving great therapy daily. I walked around the floor with him the other night and his progress continues to amaze everyone.

Michael R. Katz.
Glen Allen.