Here is a part of an e-mail written by Maj. Dawn Rice, a nurse in the Air Force Reserves of Wright Patterson Air Force Base who just returned after six months of duty on the front lines in Afghanistan. It was addressed to her family and friends and was written at 2:25 a.m. on Nov. 26, 2009, Thanksgiving Day.
E-mail written by Maj. Dawn Rice
The last time I wrote I told you I was getting ready to go to a Ramp Ceremony. It was by far one of the hardest things I have done here. I have watched them from afar but had not yet participated in one.
There were about 200 or so of us that attended this ceremony. There were three young men, ages 19, 21 and 24 who had been killed that we were honoring as their flag draped caskets were being loaded into a C130 for the flight home.
We were in formation, standing at attention as the Chaplain spoke briefly about each. Then, as bagpipes played Amazing Grace we all held a salute as they carried each by us and into the plane. I was literally on the verge of an all-out blubber. My nose was running and tears were everywhere because I couldn’t move to get my tissue.
My heart was breaking for their parents. One of them had a mother named Dawn.
Why do I tell you these things? Because I feel we all should know. We have to personalize the price and the sacrifice, not only of the service members who are here, but of the families that are home. It is so easy to forget - to get comfortable in our lives at home or to get distracted by the chaos in front of us, like the holidays, jobs, running to practice, and so forth,
Please do whatever it takes to not forget these brave men and women. Please keep praying. I know the prayers are heard. We have to cover these fighters and pray for their protection, their peace, and pray for their provision. It is getting so cold here. Pray for their comfort and warmth.
Even with the hard days and sadness I must face, I am still so thankful - thankful for family, friends, health and so much more. At 46 I am an old lady but I can still handle this very physical job. I’ve still got a few years of kickin left in me. I am thankful that soon I will be coming home. I have been forever changed by this experience and I am sure my turn may come again.
But until then I’m ready to just be home and focus on things like my love of family and friends. And what good I can continue to do in this world. In your next prayer please say thanks to the troops - and please know that you are safe because of many who are not. I love you all. Dawn.
Two blessed events happened this past Christmas Eve which brought great joy to two families.
A baby boy, just 6 months old, came home to Troy to join his family after life-saving heart surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
And an emergency room nurse in the U.S. Air Force Reserves based at Wright Patterson Air Force Base arrived home safely from duty in Kandahar, Afghanistan to her family in Ft. Wayne, Ind.
The nurse and the baby have ties that bind their families.
Dawn Rice, a major assigned to the 445th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Wright Patterson, who turned 46 last week and has been a nurse for 20 years, carried home from her war mission an American flag and a certificate that she will present to her young friend, Griffin Bigelow, who lives with his parents Lisa and Kyle Bigelow in Troy.
The baby’s aunt, his mother’s sister, is Phyllis “P.J.” Proffitt of Celina who has been a life-long friend of Dawn Rice since the two were in grade school together.
“I know the whole Bigelow family,” the nurse said. “P.J. has kept me informed while Griffin was in the hospital fighting for his life after the heart surgery.”
She added, “I had an American flag flown on my last mission for Griffin. This flag has flown over Afghanistan on a C130 hospital plane and to me it represents the strength and the heart of the American forces. It is a fitting gift for a child who is fighting so hard for survival.”
In a telephone interview Dawn continued, “The flag and a certificate that goes with it should be delivered to the Bigelow home within days. It is a symbolic gesture. I was attending to our brave American heroes over there, and this flag which flew on my very last Medivac mission goes to a baby boy who has shown so much bravery during his ordeal. We can only guess how many needles have been stuck in that little guy. And it’s not over yet.”
Griffin is the grandson of Rex and Jan Bigelow, owners of two bowling centers in Troy.
“Griffin was born on July 16 with a serious heart condition,” the grandmother said. “He did not have a left side of his heart. It didn’t develop. Doctors have done two surgeries to restructure his heart system, which saved his life. He is home and is still in therapy. And there will be more surgery one day. We are just so pleased he came home for Christmas, the greatest gift of all.”
She added, “We are so thankful that our family friend, Dawn Rice, has taken such a kind interest in our grandson even though her days were filled with the taxing mission of saving the lives of those injured in war. She is such a compassionate person.”
Rice was deployed to Afghanistan in July just as the baby was being born. She said she has worked as one of 10 Air Force nurses on duty in that war zone, rotating schedules and treating men and women wounded in action.
While deployed in Afghanistan Rice sent regular e-mails to her husband Gordon and her son, 22, and daughter, 15. “I also sent notes to members of the Bigelow family and prayed for baby Griffin.”
In one of her messages from the war Rice wrote, “I have been forever changed by this experience. Even with the long hard days, and the sadness I have faced over here, I am so thankful for my family, friends, health and so much more back home. My country is by far the best in the world.”
Dale Huffman wants your suggestions and story ideas. He’d like to share a story about you, your family, or a friend. This column is for you. Send e-mail to dhuffman@DaytonDailyNews.com or write to Dale at 1611 S. Main St. Dayton, OH 45409. Fax: (937) 225-2489. Phone: (937) 225-2272.
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