Heroes in Need and Updates

First, an update: SPC Joshua Sparling is getting a promotion to Seargent this week, and has scheduled Nov. 15th for the amputation of his lower-right leg.

Josh in March of this year outside Walter Reed.

The amputation is a good thing! The poor guy has been in misery for nearly a year while the leg heals enough to support the upper part once he's fitted with a prosthetic. Below mid-calf is toast, but he's keeping a lot more of the leg now than if the Docs had amputated last year.

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Second, a Soldier's family in need: Many of you may be readers of A Storm In Afghanistan and know the unbelievable trials and victories of a tremendously courageous family. The Stanley's are again facing a life-threatening illness and have decided to come home to the States.

The following email from Andrea Shea King was forwarded to me by super-troop supporter Mary*Ann, who has been a real friend and rock for Reid and his family.

Military Family Compassionate Auction The auction bidding will begin at 10 p.m. ET, Thursday night, 10/19.

Lt. Col. Robert "Buzz" Patterson, USAF (Ret.), Chief Operating Officer with the David Horowitz Freedom Center, is donating and will personally autograph a trio of his best selling books: "Reckless Disregard: How Liberal Democrats Undercut Our Military, Endanger Our Soldiers, and Jeopardize Our Security"; "Dereliction of Duty - The Eyewitness Account of How Bill Clinton Compromised America's National Security"; and his most recent book "War Crimes - The Left's Campaign to Eliminate the Military and Lose the War on Terror", debuting in January '07.

Patterson was the senior ranking officer of the five military aides serving in the Clinton White House, and carried the "nuclear football" - the top secret briefcase containing the launch codes for America's nuclear weapons.

Constitutional Public Radio is honored to join Buzz Patterson in this benefit auction for Army Spc. Reid Stanley ("SC Eagle" at Kafstorm.blogspot.com) and his wife Ellicia, who is battling cancer of the brain, breast, and lungs. They have three young children. And mounting expenses.

SC Eagle writes at his website: "We have finally received word back from the military. Hospice care is not covered. Which means, any home care we provide Ellicia here will be out of our own pocket. This is going to be expensive. So, reluctantly, and humbly, we'd like to ask those of you who stop by... Please help. Anything will be appreciated. Ellicia will likely need home care as her mind shuts down. And she wants to be at home, not in a hospital... home, surrounded by our children." And military insurance doesn't cover that.

"SC Eagle", stationed in Germany, was deployed to Afghanistan, and now faces another, more personal war, one with Ellicia's life in the balance.

Patterson will autograph each book with a personal message to the top bidder.

Sure to make a thoughtful and personal Christmas gift for that special military guy or gal or your favorite veteran, the three-book set will be a historic keepsake for years to come, and help a military family in their time of need.

I'll put the link to the auction up when I get it, but in the meantime please go to Reid's site and put a few $$ in the kitty.

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Third, a new arrival from Iraq:
Cody Gainey arrived Wednesday. His wife, Heather, came in Thursday. Friday afternoon mom Lynn and father Tom arrived along with his sister, Aubrey.

Sister Aubrey is a Tampa Bay Buccaneer Cheerleader.

Guess who's going to be the most popular guy on the ward?