IED ATTACK

Ran across this old post on an old blog and didn't want to loose it.  I'm so grateful that tomorrow I will have New Years Day dinner with my son and one of his army friends eleven years later....

Last night we received a phone call from the front lines of the War on Terror.  Not one you necessary want to get.  With our Son serving in the 82nd Airborne in Afghanistan we consider "no news, good news".   Thank God it was our son.  He was on a Satellite phone in one of the most remote and dangerous places in Afghanistan.  He had just survived an IED (Improvised Explosive Device).  He began the conversation with his mom saying something like, "Mom I'm okay, but we just got hit by an IED and I wanted to call you before you got a call from the Army and the story got all messed up."  As they were leaving a village they were hit.  The IED blow up the Humvee.  Two of the brave soldier  in the Humvee was blown from the vehicle.  Another one was blown into the bulletproof windshield.  Somehow they all walked away.  

While the others were taken in...my son loaded up his radio, weapons,  and other gear and headed to the top of a mountain where he spent the night.  As a Forward Observer he is trained to call in the heavy artillery.  He spend the night running recon, ready to rain fire down on the enemy at any moment.  The next morning he made it back to the camp where he called me.  We were able to talk for about 30 minutes.  He was banged up pretty good. He had intense pain in his back and legs from the blast, but he was alive.  He was hungry and thought he might get a hot meal.  All of the soldiers hit by the IED are being flown to a larger Forward Operational Base where they have the medical equipment for CT Scans and observation.  In approximately a week my son along with the other three will be refitted and sent back out to continue the War on Terror.  

I was on the runway at the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta when I got the news.  I immediately thanked God and gave Him all the credit for saving my son and the other troops lives.  I thought of Psalm 91.  I read it often as I pray for my son and others.  

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
      will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
   He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
      he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
      and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
      He will shelter you with his wings.
      His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
      nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
      nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
      though ten thousand are dying around you,
      these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
      and see how the wicked are punished.
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I tell you this story to say thanks for praying...prayer does make a difference.  I also tell you story to encourage you to continue to pray for my son and our troops...david