Josh Wetzel, an Army Paratrooper, served his country in Afghanistan and while there suffered some most serious injuries. While on a foot patrol, this brave warrior was injured in a roadside bomb explosion in May of this year. Josh lost both of his legs and suffered a neck injury and other less serious injuries in this blast. Josh recovered from his wounds and has begun his road to recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He is determined to lead a normal life, and based on all reports, he will do just that.

Josh, a native of Glencoe, Ala., is married to the former Paige Beasley, who is from Ft. Payne. Paige is the granddaughter of G. B. and Jean Beasley, who also reside in Ft. Payne. G. B. was a well-known high school football coach, who later served as principal at Ft. Payne High School. Paige, who was teaching school in Tacoma, Wash. when Josh was injured, had to give up her job so she could be with her husband while he is at Walter Reed. Paige says that Josh is working extremely hard and is on the road to recovery. Josh has a great attitude and a tremendous desire to return to a normal lifestyle.

I asked G.B. and Jean how we could help Josh and Paige and they told me they only wanted folks to pray for them. I suggested to G.B. that a fund be set up so that friends and others could help the couple through a tough time in their lives. A fund has now been set up, and it’s projected that Josh will be at Walter Reed for a year.

Neither Josh, Paige nor any of the family requested that this fund be set up, and they didn’t want to solicit donations. But the fund will give folks a way to help them out. The account was set up at First Federal Bank in Ft. Payne where folks can send monetary donations. Checks should be made out to Josh & Paige Wetzel, P.O. Box 680488, Ft. Payne, AL 35968. Any donations received, according to G.B., will go to pay travel expenses for Paige and other family members and for other expenses related directly to Josh’s hospital stay and rehabilitation. Any funds left over after Josh is discharged from Walter Reed, will be paid over to the Wounded Warrior Project, a most worthwhile cause, to help others.

Anybody who would like more information on Josh’s progress can go to Prayers For Josh Wetzel on Facebook. I want to emphasize the only thing Josh and Paige have asked for is prayers to help them get through this ordeal. You can also write Josh whose current address is SPC Josh Wetzel, 8901 Wisconsin Ave., Bldg. 10, 4th Floor, Room 442, Bethesda, MD 20889.

Even though Josh had only served in the war in Afghanistan for a relatively short time, he was doing his duty and was doing it very well. He, like all others who have fought in this long war, is an American hero. May God bless them all and their families.