This probably isn’t the type of story you are looking to be submitted, but I decided to submit anyway. My son was severely injured in Iraq in October 2004. He was 42 years old and a Lt. Col. in the Marines. At that point in the war, he was the highest-ranking officer to be injured and also the oldest. My daughter-in-law, as well as my daughter and I were at the hospital 24/7. There were a lot of very upset, young wives sitting around in the waiting rooms, some had their toddlers and babies with them. This was before everyone had cell phones. The USO had placed stacks of free phone cards around places we had access to, but not where the young moms were sitting. So my daughter and I handed out the cards to the young women and explained how to use them. We were using our cell phones to keep family and loved ones informed of my son’s progress. We were so pleased with ourselves until we went home and got our cell phone bills… our bills were over $400 each. Why didn’t we take advantage of USO’s generosity? Who knows!
