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Jerry and Sharon Bird's life has been blurred the past few days after receiving word that their son, Staff Sgt. Rich Watson was injured in Iraq Monday when a missle exploded near him.
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ENLARGE
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Rich Watson, son of Jerry and Sharon Bird of Frisco, was captured in a video which has been shown on CNN and Lou Dobbs.
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FRISCO - A rocket-propelled grenade landed within feet of Army Staff Sgt. Rich Watson on the streets in the Diyala Province of Iraq, throwing him into the ground.
"When he woke up from the initial blast he was face down on the pavement," said his mom, Sharon Jones-Bird, of Frisco, who talked to her son while he laid in an Iraqi hospital bed this week.
She and her husband, Jerry Bird, worry everyday about their son, who is in the ninth month of his second tour of Iraq. The call that came in this week only intensified their concerns.
"When he woke up from the initial blast he was face down on the pavement," said his mom, Sharon Jones-Bird, of Frisco, who talked to her son while he laid in an Iraqi hospital bed this week.
She and her husband, Jerry Bird, worry everyday about their son, who is in the ninth month of his second tour of Iraq. The call that came in this week only intensified their concerns.
Watson's wife, Tonya, of Texas, phoned the Birds about 1 a.m. Monday. All she could tell them was that their son was hurt. Twelve hours later, they all heard from the injured soldier.
"I aged quite a bit in that 12-hour period. ... I get breathless just thinking about it," Sharon said. "I hate to cry, and I cry every day."
She and Jerry recounted the situation their son recently faced. After the blast, the first thing Watson, a career soldier already in possession of a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, saw was one of his men being shot at in the street. He ran for the soldier and dragged him behind a nearby Stryker Armored Vehicle, where he called for backup before passing out again. The next time he woke up was in a nearby hospital with his head pounding from the pressure and concussion he suffered during the attack.
"I aged quite a bit in that 12-hour period. ... I get breathless just thinking about it," Sharon said. "I hate to cry, and I cry every day."
She and Jerry recounted the situation their son recently faced. After the blast, the first thing Watson, a career soldier already in possession of a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, saw was one of his men being shot at in the street. He ran for the soldier and dragged him behind a nearby Stryker Armored Vehicle, where he called for backup before passing out again. The next time he woke up was in a nearby hospital with his head pounding from the pressure and concussion he suffered during the attack.
He's under observation and doctors think he "might have cranial bleeding," but if today he "can stand up and shoot straight they'll send him back into the meat again," Jerry said.
As Sharon choked back tears, she said, "It's a tough job. They're so tired. I don't know how they keep going. ... Every day I hope he's OK. I'm really proud of him. ... Proud of him, but terrified."
Jerry added, "It's killing us. Everything you do a cloud is hanging over your head. Our whole lives could go in the toilet in a minute." And concerning the war, "everything about it is wrong and there's no end in sight."
Recently, Sharon decided to participate in a peace demonstration for the first time. She was impressed with the support she heard, but disappointed with the negative comments by people who she said, "obviously don't have friends or family in Iraq."
As Sharon choked back tears, she said, "It's a tough job. They're so tired. I don't know how they keep going. ... Every day I hope he's OK. I'm really proud of him. ... Proud of him, but terrified."
Jerry added, "It's killing us. Everything you do a cloud is hanging over your head. Our whole lives could go in the toilet in a minute." And concerning the war, "everything about it is wrong and there's no end in sight."
Recently, Sharon decided to participate in a peace demonstration for the first time. She was impressed with the support she heard, but disappointed with the negative comments by people who she said, "obviously don't have friends or family in Iraq."
Watson is expected to return to the United States in June. He will be going to Texas where his wife and two stepchildren live and then will travel to see his family in Summit County before moving to Fort Lewis, Washington.
"His buddies have lost feet, legs, limbs and they're happy to do so ... they get to go home. ... His unit is so beat up. ... We don't hold high hopes that he'll get out of there unscathed. He's just been lucky," Jerry said.
The Birds are thankful for all the community support they've felt. From students and business sending letters and packages to the soldiers, to the prayers and thoughts, everything helps.
"His buddies have lost feet, legs, limbs and they're happy to do so ... they get to go home. ... His unit is so beat up. ... We don't hold high hopes that he'll get out of there unscathed. He's just been lucky," Jerry said.
The Birds are thankful for all the community support they've felt. From students and business sending letters and packages to the soldiers, to the prayers and thoughts, everything helps.
"Keep the prayers and thoughts coming," Sharon said. "He's in danger now more than ever."
According to a report by The Associated Press, roadside bombs killed five American soldiers in Iraq on Sunday, including four in a single strike in the province of Diyala.
Lory Pounder can be reached at (970) 668-4628, or at lpounder@summitdaily.com.
According to a report by The Associated Press, roadside bombs killed five American soldiers in Iraq on Sunday, including four in a single strike in the province of Diyala.
Lory Pounder can be reached at (970) 668-4628, or at lpounder@summitdaily.com.
