***Action Alert*** Wounded Warrior Brandon Walden Needs Our Help – Please Donate

Pls take a few moments to read this important and compelling story about an exceptional, courageous young man, Army Specialist Brandon Walden, 20, a Lake Wildwood and Penn Valley boy who was critically wounded in Afghanistan. Carolyn and I are friends of Brandon!

Brandon is in a critical care unit at a hospital at Fort Sam Houston, TX, recovering from serious wounds sustained on Tuesday, July 3 in a surprise attack by a terrorist dressed as an Afghan soldier. As Brandon and his squad were leaving headquarters in Wardak, south of the capital of Kabul, the disguised terrorist opened up with an automatic weapon, wounding Brandon and four of his squad members. Brandon took three bullets, one to the ankle, one to the abdomen, the third elsewhere. He was scheduled to return home to Penn Valley on Thursday, July 5 !! Brandon and his fiancee were planning to be married in August.

After stabilization, Brandon was flown to Germany where he underwent eleven hours of surgery. He was subsequently flown to Fort Sam Houston where he underwent another six hours of surgery. Friday, July 20, he is undergoing a third surgery to remove fragments from his hip. His mother, Laura Cummins, and his fiancee are with him. Though in significant pain and fighting an infection, Brandon is talking and commenting on his experience, but remains critical.

In a prior development, Brandon and his Humvee team had been in a firefight in late May. The Humvee was hit by a rocket grenade killing three soldiers inside the vehicle. Brandon was the machine gunner in the turret on top of the Humvee. He was blown out of the turret. After treatment and rest, he was returned to combat duty. A few days later, he was treated for brain trauma symptoms, then released again for combat.

Later, in June, his mom, Laura, was placed on disability from her job as a welfare worker with Yuba county due to a heart condition. Then, on July 4, came the news of Brandon being wounded in Wardak!

Brandon did property maintenance work for us during high school. Carolyn and I worked with him on many of our projects and got to know him well. The family lived on Chaparral Drive, then later moved to Penn Valley. Laura worked as a Lake Wildwood main gate attendant while completing her degree in social welfare and raising Brandon and five other children as a single mom.

Brandon is an honorable young man of high character and values, and is a practicing Christian. We are trying to help and support the family during this very difficult time.

While in Texas with Brandon, Laura and Brandon’s fiancee are receiving funding by the Army for travel expenses. They are also receiving support from groups connected with Fort Sam Houston. Local Penn Valley, Grass Valley and Nevada City organizations and businesses are rallyiing around Brandon and his family. Financial, food, and other contributions are beginning to slowly roll in. Trina Kleist, staff writer for “The Union”, first wrote about Brandon in the July 6 edition and has written several more articles on Brandon’s plight, the family, and what the community is doing.

With Laura in TX, she is not home to manage the family and household. Four of the five siblings at home are of school age. Eldest son, Josh, is doing his best to keep things together. With Laura on disability, expenses are mounting. Not all of her TX expenses are covered by the Army. A local organization paid this month’s rent on the family home. Contributions from local supporter’s paid the water bill.

The five children at home need food and other necessities until their mom returns, gets well, and things become more normal. Your help is needed!

I am organizing a Lake Wildwood and Penn Valley food drive for the children. I am hoping as many of you as possible will find it in your heart to put together a non-perishable food box or bag. Once enough of you have notified me that you have your package ready, I will make arrangements for a pick-up run and deliver the packages to the family home. There will be other volunteers helping me.

Most anything will be appreciated….anything in your pantry will do. Or, when you go to the store over the next couple of days, place a few items in a separate bag and contact me when you get home. Please, no perishables. No box or bag will be too small!

If you are not able to put a box or bag together, the family needs, and would appreciate, any financial contribution you are willing to make, however small. A $5.00 contribution will still buy a dozen eggs and a loaf of bread! Your contributions can be mailed or delivered to:

Brandon Walden Donation Fund
c/o Wells Fargo Bank
17446 Penn Valley Drive
Penn Valley, CA 95946

Pls forward this e-mail to your friends and relatives.

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