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No bitching, no moaning, no well the war aint going well from these wounded soldiers. Who were shot down, just recognition that they are ready to go back and proud to serve. I forgot who's quote this was but 'where do we find such men'.

By The Associated Press

November 5, 2003, 11:04 AM EST
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/nyc-solid ... navigation

LANDSTUHL, Germany -- Sgt. Christopher Nelson admitted feeling a little edgy as the Chinook lifted off toward the Baghdad airport and home leave. Then, he heard "a loud boom," closed his eyes and prayed. Nelson, 27, of Orange, Texas, could remember little else of the attack Sunday that killed 15 Americans when the helicopter was shot down, apparently from anti-aircraft missiles, near the town of Fallujah.

Now recovering from his wounds in Germany, Nelson and fellow Army sergeant, Raymond Littlefield, also 27, of Ephrata, Wash., spoke with reporters from their hospital beds at Landstuhl Regional medical Center.

The two men were among those with the lightest injuries, but it was unclear when they might be released from Landstuhl. Nelson suffered a broken ankle and hip, and had a large bruise over his left eye. Littlefield said he suffered a blow to the head, and his face was badly scratched.

Both Nelson and Littlefield lost consciousness after the crash.

"I heard a loud boom. I closed my eyes and I prayed," Nelson said. "After that I don't know."

Both men returned to consciousness after army medics had begun working furiously to save their lives.

"I also heard a boom. I felt the aircraft shift and after that I went unconscious," Littlefield said.

Both came to after medics worked on them.

Littlefield had been in Iraq for a little over six months with the 43rd Combat Engineer Company based in Fort Carson, Colo. He said his wife was expecting their third child and that he had hoped to be present at the birth.

Nelson was one of 12 helicopter passengers from the 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment of Fort Sill, Okla.

Of 26 soldiers treated in Germany, 11 others remain in serious but stable condition in the intensive care unit. Three others were being flown to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.

Nelson said he had a friend "who didn't make it," and had no word of the others. He said he was itching to rejoin his unit.

"I feel we will be heading back," Littlefield said. "We're going to be in Iraq for a long time. I'm proud to do it; there are a lot of people over there who need our help."