Journey's end for a paralyzed soldier

[RamboLiberal]

Capt. Drew Jensen almost lived long enough to see his fellow soldiers from the 3rd Stryker Brigade come home.

Jensen, a West Point graduate, was shot in the neck and paralyzed in May. On Friday, doctors and his family followed his wishes and turned off life support at the Puget Sound VA hospital.

"His wife, parents, brothers, extended families and friends will miss him beyond anything words can convey," said his wife, Stacia Jensen, in an e-mail statement.

Jensen was on his second deployment as a mortar platoon leader when a sniper's bullet struck him in the neck during an insurgent attack in Baqouba, Iraq. Jensen was wounded as he tried to help a fellow soldier who was pinned behind a vehicle after a bomb explosion, according to e-mail updates sent to friends and family by his wife.

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One of Jensen's last actions in life was to look out for other wounded soldiers at the VA Hospital in Seattle. Before his death, he designated that a $10,000 fund established in his name should go to help offset the housing costs of other families who travel far to be near their wounded loved one's bedside.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/331161_drew11.html

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart/20070910/450Drew11_Landstuhl_May_10,_2007.jpg
Capt. Drew Jensen was shot in the neck and paralyzed in May. His wife, Stacia, sleeps next to him at a U.S. Medical center in Landstuhl, Germany. (Jensen family photo)

What a shame we are losing good people like this soldier to Bush's war. How many more will end up like this young man?

[LakeSamish706]

1. God did that bring instant tears.... That really displays the reality of this...

ugly war that Bush has brought onto this nation... What the hell needs to happen to get rid of this asswipe? When is enough, enough already?

[babylonsister]

2. How horrifically sad for this man and his family; sounds like he was

lucid when he made that decision which makes it even sadder somehow. For his family to shut him down when only his brain worked shows a lot of strength and courage. And his generosity is so touching. :cry:

[alstephenson]

3. Heartbreaking, just heartbreaking.

End this fucking war!

[AwakeAtLast]

4. No words, just

:cry: :cry:

Oh, and a little bit of :grr:

[rodeodance]

5. There was a similar situation like this in Madison, WI- VA hosp.-finally turned off

the repirator.

[bronxiteforever]

6. So much violence,so much sadness

I thank you for posting this, as painful as it is.

[MasonJar]

7. Such a waste of a really good man! Bush is culpable, as are Cheney,

Rumsfield and the whole sorry bunch. This story and picture should be sent to every single member of Congress. This madness must stop.