Derek? Becky asked ----- well, Derek became extremely ill in Baghdad - no one could pinpoint his illness. He blacked out - fell backwards and hit his head so hard, they are fearing brain damage. They sent him to Kuwait for treatment, then on the Germany. The army is planning to pay the way for two family members to go to Germany to be with him.

I THINK DEREK IS LYING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH HIM!!!! I think he has been "hit" and he is lying about an "illness". Oh ya'll ----- PLEASE KEEP DEREK IN YOUR PRAYERS!!!! We are all worried sick. He does call home, but when he does - he sounds so weak. Something is going on - whether it be an "illness", or an injury he won't share with us -------- Derek is in the hospital in Germany. Tears here as I write!!!!!!

Oh Cathy...I'm so sorry to hear this...I hope that he has not been hit and I hope that he is not hurt badly..and will make a full recovery...Derek and all those that are serving our country here and in foreign places remain in my prayers...but will be diligent about praying for Derek..please keep us up to date as you find out details...

Sending prayers...

So sorry to hear that, Cathy!! I know you and your family will feel better when they can figure out *exactly* what is wrong with him and when he's back home here in the States.

That is awful news....


I am so sorry for you and your family...

Hopefully all will be better soon....I'll keep you in my thoughts & prayers always.....

Cathy, I am so sorry to hear this about Derek. Hopefully it is just an illness that will get better in time. Could be anything, from a bug bite to dehydation complicating things for him, they do have some nasty things over there.. I'll say an extra prayer for him, and your family. When you hear more, let us know.

I am so sorry to hear about Derek I will keep him and all of you in my prayers. I also hope they find out what is going on? Please keep us updated thank you. Bye for now Tina,Teen,Shorty,...

Cathy, I'm so sorry to hear about Derek! Please know that I'm sending up a prayer for him and you and the family. I hope that you hear what's really going on soon so you won't have to wonder any longer. Not knowing is sometimes the hardest part.

Love, Debbie

My friends - it means the world to me that you CARE! Thank you! I'll keep you posted whenever I can find anything out!

Cathy, My heart goes out to you with this news about Derek. I do know that the Army has some of their best doctors and medical staff in Germany taking care of our soldiers, so that is good to know they have moved him there for care.

TC

This is his third medical facility in three weeks - - - - - something bad is going on!!!!!!!!!!

OMG Cathy, I am sorry to hear this news. Your post brought tears to my eyes. It is good that the Army is planning on paying the way to Germany for two family members to be there with him. As Pam said it could be any number of things. I will say extra prayers for Derek and your family. Here is sending you a big HUG!
Laura

Cathy, So sorry about Derek. Just know he is in a lot of prayers along with the rest of our military. God bless him and all your family

Cathy,
I'm so sorry to hear this news about Brad. I hope you find out soon what is going on. Who is going to Germany to see him? I'm sure you will feel a little better when someone sees him in person. Please know that I am praying for him, and your family.

Cathy, none of us can really know what you are truly feeling right now, that is always in itself so personal. But know that you have so many praying for Derek and for you and your family. It's got to be especially hard to be so far away and not see with your own eyes what you need to see. I'm praying for your family and for the courage of all the families serving in our military, especially overseas in the war zones. Hope you get some answers soon and get some peace of mind.

Trish

Cathy - I am so sorry to hear this news about Derek. Healing thoughts are with him and your family - I can't imagine how you all must feel. How soon will the family be able to get over there?

I hope Derek is ok. I will keep him in my prayers.

CATHY,
SO, SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT DEREK. I REALLY
HOPE HE IS OK. I WILL KEEP YOU,DEREK AND YOUR
FAMILY IN MY PRAYERS. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

My brother got a 15 second call from Derek ----- Derek is BACK in Baghdad! That's all I know - that's all his Dad knows. GEEEEEEZ, here we go AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We don't know about his illness (or injury) - we don't know specifics!!!!!!!!! MAYBE, JUST MAYBE Derek will be able to make a full phone call to tell us what happened ---- if the Army allows that. I feel Derek is not allowed to discuss and that's why we are getting the run around!!!! Don't know - but worried!!!!!!!!!!!! He is Alive ----- we do know that!!!!!!!

I can imagine you're worried...but at least you know he's alive!! That's more than some other families can say who's loved ones are over in the middle east and are missing. Hopefully you'll get a phone call soon that will give you more details!

Hope Derek is soon able to call you and your family to ease your minds a bit. It is so scary and now that Brad is home and has been telling us of some of the things that went on I'm glad we didn't know everything when he was there - it was frightening enough just waiting for his calls.
Prayers are continuing for Derek and your family - it's hard to do but keep faith and God will protect him and hear the prayers being said for him.
Nina

Cathy, I hope you'll soon be able to hear from Derek and put your uneasy mind to rest. Trish is so right - none of us know how you feel, but we're here for you the only way we know how, to pray and help to ease your burden just a little.

Cathy - I'm so sorry to hear about Derek. I've thought a lot about Derek and Brad since you and Nina have shared your concerns with us. I hope and pray Derek is recovering each day and God's blessings will sustain Derek and your family.

Cathy, I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

This war is definately different than the past wars. They don't send you home anymore for injuries (well maybe major injuries). My friends son took a bomb in the knee, luckily most of it was deflected, he required several stitches and he broke a bone, don't remember which one. After they cast him, and stitched him, they sent him back in the field. Guess they don't have that many new people they can send out to replace the injured ones.

Hopefully Derek will let you all know what is going on with him soon!

Guys ----- BIG PRAYERS REQUEST!!!!! Those 3 young men in Baghdad that were just found (2 of them kidnapped - tortured-beheaded - one killed at the original scene) were from Derek's unit! Oh My GOD how much more of this can we take???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? I believe this is WHY Derek went back and not on to Germany --- it was HIS request not to go to Germany!!! Oh - PLEASE PRAY FOR THEIR SAFETY!!!! I can't stand this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cathy, I don't even know what words to say, except I'm sorry your family is going through this ordeal. I follow the war on TV news & stories in the paper each day and wish it was all over. My BIL says we don't know the half of what is going on but, a lot of that is for security reasons to protect our soldiers from the militants.
I just wish Derek and the other soldiers in that brigade could call home to talk with their loved ones.
Keeping them all in my prayers.

TC

Oh my God Cathy - I can't even imagine how you must feel now knowing that those poor young men were with Derek's unit! Praying continually for Derek and all the men and women there. Please keep us posted as you find out more and know that we care and are praying for Derek's safety and you and your family's peace of mind.
Take care and if you need to pm me please do.
Nina

Derek and his entire unit AND the families of those poor three young men ALL need our prayers!!!!!! Please put all of them on any and all prayer lists you can get them on. This is just horrible --- HORRIBLE!!!!!!!

You bet, Cathy. Hubby has been ranting and raving all day about the latest atrocities over there. We're still pretty emotional after that "moving wall" trip yesterday, so all this news just about put us over the top. Big prayers again for our guys/gals and their respective families. Don't you just want to put your fist through something????

Trish

Cathy So glad that Derek is a live,I just now got to this board you have my prayers& love & for the rest of our troops that is over there.
God Bless. Them and there familys
love and prayers
SHIRL.
Lady Gill loves Vince.

Cathy, Derek must be going through some really tough emotional times right now, not to mention whatever he was hopitalized for in the first place.

It is so sad to see so many of our men and women being killed and injured. It is just horrible what Dereks unit had to go through, my heart breaks for all involved. The atrocities commited by some of those people we are fighting against, are unspeakable. Our government needs to come up with a better answer besides just sending more young people over there to suffer.

I'm sure I'm starting to sound like an "alarmist" with every post I post about Derek --- but guys - this is REAL. Those youngsters are in such real danger. I have always been so concerned about the "strangers" in our military and always prayed for their safety -- but when someone you used to change their diapers is over there ---- OH MY GOODNESS ---- it hurts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then when you hear what has been broadcast the past few days about Derek's unit ------- there just aren't enough words to explain how we feel! I do worry about Derek's emotional state. He is such a fun-loving, crazy character --- and I think he will lose that precious personality because of all of this. He was always such the clown and could gather a crowd because everyone wanted to see what he was going to say or do next! He was so funny! BUT, when he was home in April --- it was like he had forgotten how to laugh! THAT is not Derek!

I know it does change them - Brad is not the same but he is trying to get back to normal. He was so upset when he saw the news about those young men and said that what you hear is only a fraction of what actually goes on and it does get very very dangerous a lot of the times.
Please pray for all the troops and Cathy we are all praying for Derek and his unit to be safe.

Cathy, Don't know what to say. Can't think of the right words. But you are all in my prayer's.

Cathy,
I don't know what to say....this is just devastating. I do not know anyone personally that is fighting this war. I know that you are like an extended part of my family, as is everyone here. I pray for Derek, and each and every soldier that is fighting this war. My prayers continue for you and your entire family each and every day.
Laura

Not that this information makes a bit of difference as to what has happened the past few days --- but I was told those three young soldiers were from Derek's "unit" ------ they were actually from his "base" in Fort Campbell, KY.

Doesn't make a difference at all --- three fallen soldiers are three fallen soldiers. Derek's base is Fort Campbell --- to me - same difference - a "unit" is a "unit"! I just found that out about 20 minutes ago.

Cathy,
I am so sorry. I have been following the news about those 2 young soldiers. I'm sure it is devastating to find out they were in Derek's unit. It's true, at least you know he is alive, and he is probably trying to cope emotionally as well as physically with everything. I wish I had words to make you feel better. Just know we are praying for Derek, you, and all the soldiers.

Cathy - you are right it doesn't make a difference - they all feel like brothers when they are in the military. Brad was devasted to see it on tv and feels just horrible. It really just stays with you once you have experienced it first hand. Keep faith and all will be well. We are certainly praying for all of you and all the men and women still there.