We often complain loud and long about how “the media” never gets it right. About how they are willing to be toadies for things most of us don’t believe in.
Well, when they do get something right I think we need to take notice and reward them for a job well done.
The Dallas Morning News reciently named it’s Texan of the Year.
DMN Texan of the Year “A Texan (or Texans) who has had uncommon impact; who exemplifies Texas traits of trailblazing, independence and staring down adversity; and who has affected or influenced lives.”
I bet you can’t guess who that might be…
2009 Texan of the Year: The heroes of Fort Hood
02:10 PM CST on Sunday, December 27, 2009
Army Sgt. 1st Class Karl Pasco comes about as close as a human can to being The Terminator, an unstoppable machine. His wife calls him the Energizer Bunny.
He deployed to Iraq in 2004 with a 1st Cavalry Division scout platoon. Two months later, he was mangled by a roadside bomb that killed his driver. During eight days of unconsciousness, doctors couldn’t say whether Pasco would live or die.
But he recovered and returned with his unit to Iraq, staying alive and largely bomb-free for 14 months. With 45 days left on his tour, another roadside bomb riddled his armored Humvee with chunks of hot metal, killing his driver and an interpreter. One chunk hurtled upward through his right shoulder before destroying his jaw and shredding his face.Two Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars later, Pasco cracks jokes while working at Fort Hood between hospital trips for reconstructive surgery. “If it wouldn’t destroy my marriage,” he says, “I’d go back in a minute.
To read the rest of this inspiring piece please go to this PAGE.
H/T 67 Cougar
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Truly, a man for ANY year! I don’t think that proper adjectives have been invented, yet, that describe the selflessness of our men and women in uniform. You don’t learn stuff like this in the Peace Corps. Thanks for sharing it, Outlaw.
I suggest that anyone interested read all of the DMN article, and the others posted on the Dallas Morning News’ web site under TOY (Texan of the Year). Sgt. Pasco was a single man used to illustrate the incredible contribution and sacrifice made by the men and women stationed at Ft. Hood, and of those civilians in the supporting city of Killeen. The list of Ft. Hood soldiers who have sacrificed their lives and been wounded in the GWOT is a long and solemn one. These folks should be recognized and honored for what they are doing – and it’s nice DMN has done something to give such recognition.
Ft. Hood is, I believe, the largest active duty armored post in the United States. Home to the 1st Cav Division and the 4th Infantry Division, the post’s thousands of soldiers have been an integral part of ongoing operations in Iraq – as evidenced by Outlaw’s three vacations in that pleasant land.
As you all probably remember, Ft. Hood was the scene of the largest terrorist attack on our soil since 9/11, this past November.
Ft. Hood, and the City of Killeen do indeed exemplify DMN’s qualifications for Texan of the Year. Being as proud as he is of The Republic of Texas, I kind of think Outlaw is pretty pleased with his home and Army family being recognized as such.
Texas is one of my great hopes for getting us off of this socialized roller coaster we seem to be on. I continue to hold out hope that if the Fed pushes much further Texas will draw a line in the sand and reclaim their rights, as afforded in the U.S. Constitution. Go Texas!