|
|
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
|
|
LF Marine wounded in Iraq
Staff Writer When Linda Jacobson of Little Falls answered her telephone Saturday night she was hoping it was her son - Pfc. Tommy Jacobson, who is deployed in Iraq - so she could wish him a happy 20th birthday.
Instead, the call was from Tommy's staff sergeant calling to tell her Tommy was injured after the convoy he was in with four other Marines was hit by a bomb, killing Tommy's team leader and injuring everyone else.
"When Tommy's staff sergeant called I said to him 'This isn't going to be a good call. Please don't tell me that he's dead,'" said Jacobson. "He told me that my son was not dead, but he was thrown from the vehicle and was injured."
Tommy was taken to a nearby military hospital in al-Anbar province and then flown to a hospital in Germany, said Jacobson. He suffered a broken tibia and ankle and had shrapnel in his arm.
Jacobson received a call Monday afternoon that Tommy had surgery on his leg and he's doing well. She said he'll fly Tuesday to a hospital in California or Maryland to recover.
Jacobson said the staff sergeant first told her that Tommy had neck and head injuries, but the report was incorrect. He called a second time at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, 12 hours after the initial call, to tell Jacobson that the report was wrong.
A few hours later Tommy called home.
"He said 'Mom' and I started to cry," said Jacobson. "He said he was OK and he kept reassuring me that he was OK. He said he didn't have an eye abrasion, like what was reported to me. He just had dirt in his eye."
Jacobson's son told her that his convoy was heading down the road when the Marines saw someone and before they knew it they were hit by a bombing device. Tommy told Jacobson that he landed in a culvert with water and he ripped off all his protective gear so he wouldn't drown.
"Tommy said he crawled to his team leader and he saw that he lost both of his legs and then realized he was dead," said Jacobson. "Tommy's team leader was from Texas and was his best friend who was 21 years old. Tommy said he learned the most from him.
"As I'm celebrating the fact that my son is OK, there is another family who lost somebody they loved. As soon as I get their name and address I'd like to write to them to let them know what my son thought of their son."
Jacobson said Tommy, a 2006 Little Falls Community High School graduate, was deployed to Iraq July 20. She said he always wanted to join the Marines and did so after high school.
Jacobson said, "Tommy is a very ambitious person, he has the biggest and largest heart. If you're his friend, you're his friend for life. He'd help an elderly person across the street. He's a very giving young man."
Jacobson said the military couldn't tell her which hospital in the U.S. her son will fly to or how long his recovery will be.
Overall, she said Tommy is doing well and the other Marines on his team are expected to recover.
"It was good to hear his voice," Jacobson said.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
|
|
|
Thinking about a New Job?
These employers want you!
|
Loading...
|
|
|
Today's Best Classifieds:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Overcast, 61°
