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To support an injured soldier and parishioner, Rev. Michael Flannery began a letter-writing campaign at Our Lady of Hope parish in Whitehall.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Dennis Downs, 27, was seriously injured during his last tour in Afghanistan in April. While hospitalized in Texas, Sgt. Downs' childhood parish and community reached out across the country with calls, letters, prayers, and cards.

"We began the letter campaign because we wanted to recognize the sacrifice of this parishioner who has given so much to our parish and our country," said Father Flannery, who is administrator of both Our Lady of Hope and St. Ann's in Fort Ann.

Sgt. Downs' parents and family still reside in Whitehall.

"The support has just been phenomenal," said Raymond Downs, the soldier's father. "The calls, the emails, the cards and the letters from everyone have been great. Even people simply asking how he's doing from time to time and Father Flannery mentioning him during Mass is so helpful."

As a young parishioner at Our Lady of Hope, Sgt. Downs served as an altar boy and often volunteered to help with church breakfasts and events. Then, immediately after graduating from Whitehall High School, he enlisted in the Army as a construction equipment operator.

Fateful day
On April 7, Sgt. Downs and his company were asleep when a mortar attack hit his base camp just before midnight, Mr. Downs said.

Sgt. Downs was making sure others had found safe cover when he was injured, suffering numerous wounds due to shrapnel, including a shattered leg. He later received a Purple Heart for his bravery.

Raymond Downs recalled the day he and his wife found out about their son's injury: "Our hearts just sank."

When the mortar attack hit, Sgt. Downs was within 20 feet of the blast - what's known as "the kill zone."

"It could have been so much worse," said Mr. Downs; "but God was taking care of him that night."

Sgt. Downs was quickly brought home to the States for treatment and recuperation. From April to October, he went through a number of surgeries to repair the damage caused by the shrapnel. He now awaits the slow mending of his leg; the remaining pieces of shrapnel may not be removable.

Buoyed spirits
Instead of dwelling on the difficulties ahead, Sgt. Downs is feeling optimistic.

"I enjoy working on my '77 Ford F-150. It is my 'rolling hobby,'" he said. "More importantly, I now have time to spend with my wife, Rebecca, and my two-year-old daughter, Jazmyn."

Along with the support of his family, Sgt. Downs said his faith and yearning to return to normalcy helped him through the past seven months.

"I'm just going to take in one day, one hour at a time and see what tomorrow holds," he said.

His father told The Evangelist that "it has been a roller coaster ride of good news and bad news, but our church has been so supportive and he's where he should be in his recuperation. He's home now and he's getting better; I'm just thankful for that."

(11/11/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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