As some of you know I work for the Defense Logistics Agency (D.L.A.) and the Department of Defense (D.o.D.) in a warehouse. On Friday night one of my fellow employees was very badly injured while preparing freight for the troops for shipment.
My fellow employee was driving a stand up forklift when it shifted suddenly and unexpectedly. On instinct he stuck out his left foot to brace the lift. His left foot and lower leg were violently crushed by the lift against a steel barrier that guards a cart line spur control panel. He suffered multiple open compound fractures, his foot was severely mangled and his head struck the lift roll cage causing a severe head injury. Our post has it’s own Paramedics and Fire Department. They got there in seconds but it still took them over an hour to stabilize the young man enough for transport due to the severity of his injuries. The young fellow was taken by Lion Flight to the Penn State/Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
The last update I received was that he had the left foot amputated but was in very serious condition. His family was brought in to be with him. I cannot reveal his name at this time. I realize that we get paid for what we do but we supply the troops around the world. Without us the military could not perform it’s duties. There would be no freedom, no United States of America. If you think of it please keep this young fellow and his family in your thoughts, prayers and well wishes.
Saturday was one of the worst days I have had at work in a long time.
Thanks for the post Eric. I hope the youngster will recover and learn how to function with out the use of two feet. How fleeting life as we know it can be.
Nighthawk, your services are greatly appreciated. Our prayers are added for this youngman.
My wife and I have a son-in-law in the army, at Ft. Bliss, and a cousin on her side in Iraq. Please let this young man and his family know we are praying for them.
I’ve never been in the army, but I was in an off-shoot focused on youth known as the Royal Canadian Army Cadets. I saw just how important the logistics side of the military was while I trained at CFB Gagetown in the summers and I know that in times of conflict, their role is even more important. You guys are the back bone of the forces and you also face your own dangers and risks, as evidenced by this horrible accident. I hope that he recovers as best he can and that he transitions well into his new reality. My thoughts are with him and his family.
There truly is a terrible cost for Freedom! May God bless this young man, his family, co-workers and friends. You all (this young man, Eric and all who work with you) will be in mine and my wife’s prayers.
Several years ago my friend Pat Barnes was driving a forklift loading a boxcar at USMC Logistics Base, Yermo Annex. The Machine tipped over and Pat lost his life.
I will pray your co-worker pulls through and gets on with his life. Jim
Jim,
That is very tragic. My condolences to you and Paul’s family.
Most folks don’t know just how dangerous a forklift or lift truck can be. Our lightest lifts weigh over 8,000 pounds and that is just the lift with battery, no cargo yet. Add on another 3500-4000 pounds for cargo plus the operator weight. All on a wheel base 1/3 the size of a family sedan but taller so a higher center of gravity. These are a light duty lift too. I am licensed up to and including 20,000 pound cargo capacity but we have ones that make even them look puny. All you have for protection is a roll cage and a lap belt. No wonder the leading cause of accidental death in the warehouse industry is fork lift related.
I want to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers. I have not received an update today as it was a Holiday with no work. If you all don’t mind I would like to print out this post to give to the young fellow or his family in the near future.
Thanks all. I will keep you up to date as soon as I learn anything new.
Please pass along my prayers and thoughts to this young man and his family. Also, a very huge thank you to all those who have, are now and will in the future serve our country.
Misericordaliter Deus , nos memor pro vos totus quisnam es infirmus , vel vulnero is dies.
Tribuo lemma virtus vivo per suum morbus.
Succurro lemma ut visio quod victum suum vereor.
Exsisto per lemma ut they es unus vel reprobo.
Levamentum lemma ut they es infringo.
Quod tactus lemma per vestri curatio
Phasmatis ut they may reperio quod usus eternus vita ,
iam quod forever.
GLORIA PATRI, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum.
Amen.
(In English)
Merciful God,
we remember before you all who are sick, or injured this day.
Give them courage to live with their disease.
Help them to face and overcome their fears.
Be with them when they are alone or rejected.
Comfort them when they are discouraged.
And touch them with your healing Spirit
that they may find and possess eternal life,
now and forever.
GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning is now, and will be forever. Amen.