SPC L.

I have received an email from one of my friends. It is a pretty sad email about a soldier who has given more to his country than most people ever will. He is 20 years old and hails from Houston, Tx. He was wounded 09 May, 2008 while conducting combat operations in East Baghdad. Most of his face is gone. He lost his entire bone structure, mouth, nose, and vision. He was evacuated to Walter Reed Hospital where the Doctors performed numerous surgeries to repair his face. His 1SGT was fortunate enough to attend the Purple Heart Ceremony at Walter Reed while he was home on leave in June. He was also able to mee up with Levines Dad. Levine was transferred to a VA hospital in Palo Alto, where the best care for his vision would be available. His 1SGT said that he is a true fighter with a heart of gold but unfortunately he received some bad news from the hospital doctors.

Lately, Levine has been resisting treatment and being somewhat combatitive with the hospital staff. He has had a few outbursts and the staff is real worried about him. The 1Sgt said that it seems like a serious case of depression is setting in, although his wounds on the outside may look bad, they may never compare with the wounds he has on his inside. He spoke with him on the phone this evening and he seemed real down. The reality is that he still has a long road to recover and may never see again and that at the age of 20. This young man has everything to live for and is a true inspiration and his 1SGT feels obligated to try and rally some support for him. He knows that there are a lot of caring people out there who would love to do something special for this outstanding American who gave all for his country. I wish him luck and the best in the world. Hopefully he will be recovering soon.