Attitude...

Army SPC Josh Wells hugs 8-year-old Erica Touchstone Friday after a ceremony welcoming him home. (Aaron Rhoads)

“We’ve known it his whole life, he’s always upbeat and happy and positive, and he’s very strong and determined. If God had to choose someone who could handle this, he chose the right person.”

Evening...happy hump day.

Another day closer to having our warriors home, eh?

Yesterday, I received an email from a wonderful lady in our support group who described her trip to Liberty, Mississippi to attend a homecoming celebration for SPC Josh Wells. This warrior lost both of his legs as a result of an EFP attack last November while serving with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in Iraq.

To top it off, SPC Wells married his girlfriend in a surprise hospital-room ceremony just weeks after surviving the attack.

I was touched by the note and the story of SPC Wells - it brought tears and laughter to my day....and it also challenged me to look in the mirror and check my attitude.

With Susan's permission I am reprinting her note...

See what you think...

Subject: Homecoming Celebration for SPC Josh Wells
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:33:24 EDT

"This past weekend my family and I had the opportunity to go to Liberty, Mississippi to honor SPC Josh Wells at a homecoming celebration that the town had planned for him. 138 Freedom Riders met them at the state line and escorted them all the way to the Court House! The Mayor gave him the Key to the City and I do believe that most all of the town turned out for it. It was awesome.

SPC Wells is the 21 year old soldier that I told ya'll about that lost both of his legs when the Stryker he was driving rolled over an EFP that exploded. Beau was on guard duty that night and heard the explosion. Thank God the men that were with him in that Stryker were able to get him out. From what Josh told me at a get-together his family had for him after the ceremony, if it hadn't been for his SGT and fellow soldiers that would not give up on trying to get him out, he would not be here today. Those guys are loyal, dedicated, and brave and I am glad to know that our son is serving with them.

I wanted to share this with you all because after meeting Josh, I must say that I don't believe I have ever met a young man/soldier like him in my life. He is kind, funny, and VERY positive about his recovery. He still has a year or so to go in physical therapy but he told me when he sees us in Germany he will be walking again. I will pray everyday that he is running and hopefully God will meet us in the middle!

I could go on all day saying how GREAT this young man is but I won't. However, I will share one stupid thing that I did while we were there. During the ceremony his family arranged for us to go up on stage with Josh to surprise him because he did not know we were gonna be there and we did not know they were gonna invite us up on the stage. When it came my turn to hug Josh, I hugged him so hard that I broke the Key to the City of Liberty that he had been given...talk about embarrassing!

Ya'll have a good rest of the day and I hope you enjoyed the update on SPC Josh. Nothing is gonna keep that soldier down!

I will be praying for Josh's recovery and that our guys still in Iraq are bored.

As Always...

Susan"

------------------------------------

The McComb Enterprise-Journal also carried a story on SPC Well's homecoming. You can read their article here.

Chris, we love you son - check in when you can.

Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman