While
on foot patrol in Taji Iraq on September 14, 2006 Cpl Turner Lee noticed something on the road that just didn’t seem to belong there. Without giving
it much thought his instincts told him to step over this out of place thing on the road. Unfortunately the soldier that was
walking behind him not seeing it stepped on what was to be an IED.
Unfortunately
Cpl Turner's Battle Buddy Cpl Makowski, was injured so severely he did not survive. Cpl Turner took the blast to his
back.
On
September
15, 2006 we received the call that no
parent or family member wants to receive. Our hearts and souls were heavy as we went thru the long awaited journey of finding
out if he would survive and where if he did we were to travel to join him in his recovery. It’s seemed to take forever
for us to get word that we were to travel to meet our Son at Walter Reed Army
Medical Center in Washington D.C.
It
was a constant battle for Cpl Turner to recover from his injuries. All attending physicians were in total disbelief that he
had and continued to survive from the wounds he suffered. It would come to our attention much later that one of the main factors
in his survival was his flak jacket that so many had said was insufficient to protect our soldiers. The shrap metal had caused
the flak jacket to work as a plug covering and sealing the hole which was in his back. The
injury to his back was not discovered by the medics in Taji till they attempted to remove his uniform, only then did
they discover the extent of his injuries.
All
in all our experiences during his recovery time at Walter
Reed Army
Medical Center will be an experience we would never want to repeat. The care that was given to our Wounded Warrior was to say the
least A+. The team of physicians obviously did their best, as the proof is in his survival. As the family of a wounded warrior
we were treated with such respect. We had no needs that weren’t addressed. On a daily basis we took part in activities
that the staff & community volunteers put together for us to make life a little more bearable for us during this process
of recovery.
Well
it has been a year now, and with much happiness in our hearts we can put all that has happened in a very different perspective.
Although we will never truly understand all the whys and wherefores of all that is going on in Iraq. We can say we are Proud of our Son for all he did while there. His courage,
strength to recover, and his desire to remain in the Army. This is all a memory to us now. The phone call , the recovery time,
the receiving of the purple heart ceremony and the return of Cpl Turner to his troop at Ft Hood. On September 10 2007 Cpl Lee Turner took Astrid as his new Bride and his life has
now taken on all the challenges he has chosen.
The
word came down this past week the Army Medical Board has rejected his request to remain in the Army. Cpl Turner will not accept
this decision, and as he did his injuries he is now taking on this new challenge and will do all in his power to prove he
is a Soldier and his desire is to remain in the Army. He has a Job to do and that is the Job of an American Soldier.
This
Family with out a doubt sends a sincere Thank You to the Military, the Entire Staff at Walter Reed Army Medical
Center, the Staff and Management of the Housing facility , and all the organizations that stepped up to take care of
our every need and let us know The Troops and the Family of the Troops will not be forgotten.
The
time we spent with all the soldiers and their families during these trying times was something that has touched our hearts
and has given our Family such Respect for our Soldiers and Families. For this Reason I have a greater desire to get the word
out
We Need to Support Our Troops
