SSG Westbrorok, 2-11 FA, needs some help

[Yamabushi]

Forwarded by a friend of mine...great place to help if you feel like lending a hand or have a connection, contact info is at the end:

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21 Sep 04

Soon after we arrived here at Ft. Sill, a 2-11 soldier was honored at a post ceremony in which he was awarded the Purple Heart. Most of you will remember SSG Gene Westbrook and/or Peggy Westbrook. (SSG Westbrook's photo is attached here, from a recent Cannoneer article.) Peggy was a vigorous supporter of the Bravo Battery FRG in Hawaii.

SSG Westbrook was wounded by shrapnel in Iraq, and is now paralyzed from the chest down.

Today's Lawton Constitution ran a front page story about SSG Westbrook, but only the first portion of it is available online:

http://www.lawton-constitution.com/ftpage/092104.pdf

The rest of the article explains how SSG Westbrook, upon arrival home from the VA hospital in July, was trying to operate a special van fitted with a chairlift. It wasn't a new van, and the chairlift shorted out. SSG Westbrook was stuck in the van, his seat locked in the up position, and he was sweltering in the 110+ degree heat, as the air conditioner did not work. It took about an hour before a lawn service worker jury-rigged his drill to move the seat down and release SSG Westbrook. Given that, the Westbrooks decided it was unsafe to continue to use the old van, and would like to purchase a new one. But they can't afford one, and SSG Westbrook will be medically discharged from the Army in a few months.

The VA will pay $11,000 toward the $28,000-$29,000 van that the Westbrooks are trying to purchase. The local Goodyear plant quickly raised over $1000 this month and donated it toward the van.

Recently, when SSG Westbrook was at his church here in Lawton, a young man in his congregation expressed a need for a car to get to work; he and his wife are currently using a 3-wheeled motorcycle. SSG Westbrook immediately offered his own second vehicle, which he can no longer drive. Remarkable, that a man in such need, would react so instantaneously to another's needs, and just plain give him his truck.

Anyone interested in helping out the Westbrooks can make a donation to:

Grace Fellowship Benefit for Gene Westbrook

Checks may be sent in care of City National Bank, P.O. Box 2009, Lawton, OK 73502. The account number is #872260.