Things You Can't See...

Army Spc. Jordan Riddle gives his nephew Ashton Murphy a thumbs up at HealthSouth Rehabilitation of Arlington on Tuesday. (SPECIAL TO THE STAR-TELEGRAM/RICHARD W. RODRIGUEZ)

"It took 20 men and two Stryker vehicles to get that thing off of him," Murphy said. "The only way they were able to find him was because of his tattoos. I made him get a tattoo of Jesus on the cross and the 23rd Psalm before he went over because I wanted to make sure he was saved if he was going to Iraq."

(Mitch Mitchell, Star-Telegram Staff Writer)

Evening - happy hump day. Another day closer to having our loved ones home, eh?

The info hounds produced an interesting article on SPC Jordan Riddle, a U.S. Army Medic with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment who survived the deadly house-borne IED that took the lives of six of our best assigned to the 3-2 SCR in Sinsil, Iraq. Neither SPC Jordan nor his buddies in the 2nd SCR gave in...to that massive block of concrete that landed on him...and now he is on the road to recovery.

I am humbled by the courage and strength of all of these warriors who wear the uniform of our great nation. We owe them a debt of gratitude...

In the comfort of our great nation we have a tendency to forget the sacrifice our men and women in uniform are making for you and me...

The next time you see a U.S. service member...take a moment to look them in the eye...and say thank you...

GI recovering from blast that killed 7
By MITCH MITCHELL
Star-Telegram staff writer

ARLINGTON -- Jordan Riddle returned from Iraq about 40 pounds lighter and with no memory of the January explosion that almost took his life.

It's the things you can't see that are the most dangerous on the battlefield, the U.S. Army medic and Arlington native said from his hospital bed Tuesday.

Members of Riddle's unit were clearing houses of Sunni insurgents in Sinsil on Jan. 9 when a booby-trapped home exploded, killing six soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter, said Riddle's sister Shannon Murphy.

"They can shoot at me all day," said Riddle, who begins occupational therapy today at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Center of Arlington. "They're real bad shots. They never hit anything."

But the explosion blew Riddle backward, and a block of concrete landed on top of him. Murphy said she was told by an another injured soldier from the unit that the block covered her brother from his chin to his lower legs.

"It took 20 men and two Stryker vehicles to get that thing off of him," Murphy said. "The only way they were able to find him was because of his tattoos. I made him get a tattoo of Jesus on the cross and the 23rd Psalm before he went over because I wanted to make sure he was saved if he was going to Iraq."

Riddle said he will spend another six months recuperating from his injuries. The blast and concrete collapsed both his lungs, broke his right arm in several places, tore flesh from his abdomen and burned his face.

"Sometimes it's a blessing not to remember anything," Riddle said. Riddle said he misses his unit, the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Calvary Regiment. But his family is glad to have him back home.

Tuesday was the first time since the attack that Riddle's 9-year-old nephew, Ashton Murphy, has seen the man he calls Uncle Bubba. Riddle was in intensive care while recovering in San Antonio, and Ashton was not allowed inside.

"I said, 'I don't know how he's gonna look, but it doesn't matter,'" Ashton said. "I don't know if I could have lived without him."

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Chris, I love you son! Your sacrifice and commitment is remembered every day...

Be safe! We can't wait to see you in May!

Love,
Dad