Re: Notification:

Meet Pvt. Kevin Kammerdiener

June 2008

He has burns on 25% of his body - mainly his face, neck and hands. He will need rehab at least on his hands. He is also on a ventilator at this point, but they have begun weaning him off of that. His left ankle is fractured, but the most severe injury is the head wound. He has a lot of staples in his head and the doctor's are unsure of neurological deficits at this point. I have been told that he may be blind, he may be deaf (particularly in his left ear), and he may have problems with speech. We are unsure of this because it's just too soon to tell, but this is what I was told.

Nov 1 2008

Well...it finally happened! Kevin said MOM today - yay!!!! Maritza was telling him he couldn't have any dinner until he said it and he just said it on the first try like he has been saying it all along. I think there were about 12 people in the kitchen and everyone just started clapping and dancing. Kev was so proud of himself!

AND A REMINDER TO ALL: THERE ARE MANY MORE MOTHERS AND SPOUSES RECIEVING NOTIFICATIONS, BUT NOT ALL HAVE BLOGS, SO TO MAKE SURE THOSE FAMILIES THAT MAY NOT RECIEVE ATTENTION THROUGH THE BLOGOSPHERE, LET'S MAKE SURE THEY RECIEVE YOUR SUPPORT THROUGH SOLDIERS ANGELS OR THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT OR SOME OTHER MILITARY SUPPORT PROGRAM OF YOUR CHOICE.

Notification:

Wife of CPT Rob Yllescas

On October 28th, 2008 @ exactly noon, I was sitting on the couch feeding baby Eva when I got a phone call that would change our life forever. It was the Rear Detachment Notification Captain. He informed me that Rob had been injured in Afghanistan. I remember my blood going cold. I truly thought he was joking. In fact, I asked him “Are you serious?” “Yes, I’m serious.” He had me write down a bunch of numbers, but my hand was shaking so bad and my mind was so numb I don’t even remember writing them down. I just wanted to know how bad he was injured. He then told me Rob had been hit by an IED. WHAT?!? That was the last thing I thought would happen. They don’t even have IED’s where he’s at—or at least I thought they didn’t. He then gave me his list of injuries. I just wanted him to quit talking. This couldn’t be happening. I’m not sure if I was in denial or shock but I just wanted him to STOP.

Day 3

Today was also the same. Even though people have told me this is going to be a very long, SLOW process, it's still hard to wrap yourself around that. I just want him to wake up, jump out of bed, throw his legs on, and go about his way. But, I know it's not that simple. My heart absolutely aches for him. I feel completely helpless. He is torn up all the way from his head down to his legs. I wish I could take the pain and hurt away. Even if he would just wake up and I could talk to him would make me feel better. It was one week ago yesterday when I last spoke to him. If only I knew.....

Thoughts and Prayers needed.

UPDATE: Soldiers Angels is on it.

AND A REMINDER TO ALL: THERE ARE MANY MORE MOTHERS AND SPOUSES RECIEVING NOTIFICATIONS, BUT NOT ALL HAVE BLOGS, SO TO MAKE SURE THOSE FAMILIES THAT MAY NOT RECIEVE ATTENTION THROUGH THE BLOGOSPHERE, LET'S MAKE SURE THEY RECIEVE YOUR SUPPORT THROUGH SOLDIERS ANGELS OR THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT OR SOME OTHER MILITARY SUPPORT PROGRAM OF YOUR CHOICE.

Fighting the Pirates of the Caribbean

The U.S. Navy tucks some of its pirate fighting history into a work designed to remind people that the Navy has never been just about blue water operations.

A a steam galliot gets mentioned.

As set out here.