Comforting Arms
by admin on Sep.21, 2009, under Non-Combatant Heroes
Chief Master Sgt. John Gebhardt cradles an injured Iraqi girl
This is so sweet, even though is has a tragically sad beginning. The young girl in the photo was shot in the head when insurgents attacked and executed her entire family. They intended her to die with her family, but somehow she survived. She was brought to the military hospital on the Balad Air Base, where she received care for her injuries. John Gebhardt is with the McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas, and was at the time stationed in Balad. According to his wife, he has always has a tender place for children, so when the little girl had trouble sleeping and needed a comforting shoulder, John was there for her. The nurses said he was the only one who could get her calmed down enough for her to get her much needed rest.
While deployed to Iraq, the chief tried to help out any way he could. He figured holding a baby that needed comforting that would free up one more set of arms that could be providing care to more critical patients.
…“I got as much enjoyment out of it as the baby did,” he said. “I reflected on my own family and life and thought about how lucky I have been.” (source)
We are most lucky to have men like John serving in the military.
January 4th, 2010 on 3:58 pm
touching.. made me tear a bit..