News You Won't Hear on CNN... or FOX for that matter

Below is a story from a weekly newsletter I received recently:

The Patriot Post
Friday Digest
22 May 2009
Vol. 09 No. 20

Profiles of Valor: 10th Special Forces Group

On 10 September 2007, a team of three Army Green Berets led by Capt. Matthew A. Chaney, along with nine Iraqi police, began an assault from two helicopters near Samarra, Iraq. The team was targeting Abu Obaeideah, a leader of the Islamic State of Iraq in the area. The field designated for landing was covered with water, so the helicopters had to land closer to the insurgents' safe house, where they came under heavy enemy fire.

Practically blinded by dust from the second helicopter, the Iraqis were all but taken out of the fight from the start, so Chaney, Sgt. 1st Class Michael D. Lindsay and Staff Sgt. Jarion Halbisengibbs led a charge against the building where the hostile fire was originating. Halbisengibbs threw in a fragmentation grenade, killing two, and the soldiers rushed in. Lindsay was hit in the throat by an AK-47 round, and Chaney took a hit to the pelvis. Then both were thrown from the doorway by a grenade blast. Lindsay, who couldn't raise his rifle, fired at the enemy with his pistol. Chaney couldn't feel his legs, but he kept firing, killing a jihadi. Halbisengibbs "continued to clear the structure in complete darkness as his night vision goggles and personal radio were all destroyed by enemy gunfire at point blank range," the official narrative read. He was shot in the thumb and knocked down by a grenade blast but continued fighting, killing another terrorist. As he moved back to the courtyard to protect his wounded comrades, Halbisengibbs was shot through the abdomen but managed to kill another jihadi on his way to the ground. He then directed the Iraqi police to finish the fight. Obaeideah was killed, along with 12 other insurgents, six by Halbisengibbs.

All three Green Berets have recovered from their injuries. Chaney and Lindsay were each awarded the Silver Star; Halbisengibbs received the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army's second highest combat medal.

My New Buddy

I've been a bit distracted from blogging for the past several weeks. Some important things have been happening and now I think I should get back to work and document some of them.
The biggest new change in life is the arrival of my son Lee!
Lee Charles was born May 14th 7:26 am, weighing 7 lb 12 oz and measuring 21 inches long. He and Pam are both doing very well. We are thrilled to have him be part of our family.
A little background on Lee's journey here: at about 5 months pregnant, Pam learned from her doctor that she was producing antibodies to Lee's opposite blood type. In the past a simple shot has prevented this from being a problem. This time however it appeared that the shot was not working.
This meant that if at any time over the next four months Pam's production of antibodies rose too high, Lee would run out of sufficient red blood cells to continue carrying oxygen and nutrients through his body. Well, Pam was checked regularly since that time and in a truly wonderful answer to prayer, her antibody production remained extremely low (in stark contrast to our anxiety and worry).
After Lee was born his jaundice levels were a bit elevated (remaining antibodies from Pam's immune system could lead to higher breakdown of his blood cells and consequently higher bilirubin buildup), but even these stayed within normal limits and declined quickly.
We feel extremely fortunate to have him here, healthy and strong in spite of numerous opportunities for things to have gone otherwise.