Injured Soldier’s Family Heads To Germany
By ROBERT McNEILL Of The Record Staff
Poe
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Injured Soldier’s Family Heads To Germany
By ROBERT McNEILL Of The Record Staff
Poe
Marine Sgt. Charles Mason Poe of Dunn, hurt last week in Iraq, has undergone
multiple surgeries since his evacuation to Germany and is now in a coma in
serious condition, according to his brother.
His brother, Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Poe, is home from active duty in Massachusetts,
where he trains Marine Reservists.
Mason Poe’s parents, Joe and Marilyn Poe of Dunn, and his girlfriend left for
Washington, D.C., Monday enroute to Germany to see Mason.
The soldier was wounded in combat following an explosion April 20 during hostile
fire in Iraq. The soldier and his entire crew were hit and he suffered fractures
to both legs and head trauma.
Sgt. Joseph Poe said his brother underwent surgery to the head and legs Saturday
and on the spine Sunday. He is scheduled for more spinal surgery this week.
“We (the family) were told early this morning that Mason was in and out of
consciousness,” Sgt. Poe said Monday. “Right now he is in a coma.” Sgt. Poe said
the family has received an outpouring of love from the local community and
abroad since Mason’s ordeal. They appreciate the kind and generous support, he
said.
“Mason was loved and liked by a lot of people,” Sgt. Poe said. “He touched many
lives.
“We have received calls from just about every church in Dunn and abroad. We even
received some calls from Maryland. Mason worked in Maryland as a volunteer
firefighter before coming back to Dunn.”
Mason Poe is a 1999 Triton High School graduate and joined the Dunn Fire
Department at age 16 as a junior volunteer firefighter in November 1996. After
high school graduation, he enlisted in the Marines and left after four years. He
received several awards while in service.
Upon his return to Dunn, Sgt. Poe resumed his work as a firefighter. He went
full-time with the fire department in June last year and was named Outstanding
Young Firefighter of the Year 2003 by the Greater Dunn Jaycees. He was called
back to active military duty in January 2004 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
His brother said Mason’s injuries have been a difficult ordeal for the family.
But the family is “praying for him and hoping he is OK,” he said. The situation
is especially difficult for the fellow soldier.
“We are brothers by birth and in the Marines Corps,” Sgt. Poe said. “You never
want to see a fellow Marine fall to the side. You go on an operation with all
your Marines and want to come back with all your Marines.
“Mason will be coming back home. My brother is injured and has fallen to the
side. He cannot be out with his men. So I want him home.”
The Poe family suffered another serious blow when their daughter, Rachel Poe,
was injured during a hit-and-run accident in Baltimore, Md., in July 2002 and
underwent surgery. The couple also has a fourth child named Dawn.
Mason Poe’s father, Joe Poe, served in the Army during Operation Desert Storm.
Articles are
posted here as a service, to keep subscribers abreast of News and Views, Pro or
Con on issues of interest to it's readers
and are reprinted under the fair use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
doctrine of international copyright law."
