To those of you who followed the adventures of LCDR  John Pethel in Afghanistan, you know that he left for medical reasons and rotated back to the USA.

Yesterday, He was operated on and today is recovering nicely at the Navy Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia, as he has just written to me via email.

 I thought it was great that he was able to respond back to me today and in cheerful spirits. He is a very inspiring guy.

Bruce

Thank you so much for this update! I've been wondering about him. I am not surprised to hear he is in cheerful spirits.

Pass along get well wishes from me please, and tell him that when he's able to, he should update his thread here on the Forum:

LCDR John Pethel (under Special Contact Requests)

  Jenifer

Thanks for the update. I was also wondering how he was. 

Bruce,

That's great news! Thanks for sharing with us. He was a wonderful contact. I wish him a speedy recovery.

Jen

I sent LCDR Pethel the link to B Trattler's message...so if anyone wants to write a get well note???

My husband and I wish you a quick recovery LCDR Pethel !!!!

Whoever has LCDR Pethel's contact info send me a PM or at tleat get word to him that Diane from Boston sends good wishes and all, ok? or LCDR Pethel, I passed on your intell about bringing towels to A-Stan to a young sailor about to go there! He was most appreciative, Merry and Happy.

diane

Greetings Everyone!!!

   It is with happiness and guilt that I write you today - happy that I am home and able to write you and guilt that I'm here and more than two dozen folks I served with died in Afghanistan and unable to do what I'm doing. I'm not entirely sure where to respond to the forum, but I wanted to get in touch with you when the time was right.

   I think the time is right - and so much has happened in my life in the past three months. In October, I left Afghanistan suddenly and had every expectation to return to Kandahar, but the doctors wanted me to go to Landstul, Germany to get an MRI for numbness in my arms/hands. Once there, I realized the problem was bigger than I originally thought and was flown to Portsmouth Naval hospital in Virginia for follow-on treatment. I'm now the proud owner of a 12 inch scar on the inside of my left elbow to correct what is called cutible tunnel syndrome, and possess almost normal sensations in my left hand and will most likely have the right arm done in a few months.

   Not a day passes where somehow I'm not mentally in Afghanistan. Whether it happens at night, waking up thinking I'm in the middle of a rocket attack, or when I'm safe and eating things I want to eat, my mind goes to the troops in Afghanistan doing the things not many want to do and also to the Afghans who are just striving for a better quality of life. The reality of my tour is there wasn't enough time to do what was needed, but with so many people over there chipping away, one day what we're doing there might make sense. My hope is that the Afghans I mentored learned some new ways of looking at situations to sustain them at least on the path to success. War is something the Afghans know much about - they've had it in their lives for centuries - and sadly, I suspect will continue to have it for a little longer.

   While in Germany, the Wounded Warrior project, made a tremendous impression on me. I left Afghanistan with some troops who were the real wounded warriors....IED victims, direct fire victims - special forces guys really in bad ways. The guilt I felt just being on the same plane with them cannot accurately be described - but those who are in my same shoes know what I'm talking about. Anyway - the Wounded Warrior project - really takes cares of wounded troops and in the event I ever pen my experiences encountered in Afghanistan - all proceeds will go to both the "Any Sailor" and the "Wounded Warrior Project".

   I cannot thank you enough for your support, hope, and love you sent to me on a daily basis. You have truly touched the lives of countless soldiers/airmen/sailors and marines. I was and continue to be inspired and indebted to you for your support and sacrifice.

 Very respectfully,

LCDR John M. Pethel

j2pethel@yahoo.com  

LCDR Pethel,

Thank you *so* much for your update! I've really missed your updates, as they always made me laugh, cry, smile and/or give me something to think about. This one is no different.

Thank you for being an AnySailor contact, for your service, and for sharing your experiences.

 

Hi John,

As promised in this morning's email... here's my post to you!

 Happy New Year, LCDR John M. Pethel!

Yay! I know I'm not the only one who's happy to see your post! 

Happy New Year!

Jen

OH YEAH!!! You sure can say that again, Jen!!!

Welcome back, John!!!!  Welcome HOME!!!!

Love,

--Marilyn

Hi John, I'm so glad you posted, there are many on here that have beeing a worrying and a wondering about you!   Please enjoy everything you can and take good care of yourself.  I too worry that the emotional problems of this war may outlast some of the physical ones.  Hopefully you have access to counseling help and please don't hesitate to use it.   You were a wonderful contact for those you served with and I'm sure you will be remembered by many Afghans as well. 

Thanks for bringing us up to speed, please stay in touch,     Anita in Oregon

Welcome Home LCDR Pethel...

You are needed here, too  and you have inspired others in ways you can never imagine!

diane

 Thank you for the preceding posts.  I have been limited in my time one here the past few weeks, so am just getting caught up.

I would like to add my best wishes and prayers for LCDR Pethel.  It is so heart warming and yet difficult to read your sentiments.  We are so very grateful to you for your contributions and generous actions for the locals - and it is assuring that their situation is, however slowly, gradually improving.  You and so many other members of the Armed Services do so much to make us proud, and give us so much incentive to be any"soldier" supporters.  THANK YOU AND BEST WISHES.