A message to our Minnesota readers

Marine Corporal Johnathan Benson of North Branch, Minnesota was serving his second tour in Iraq when he was seriously wounded. Editor Mary Helen Swanson of the East Central Minnesota Post Review covers Corporal Benson’s story in “Hometown hero needs your support.” Ms. Swanson asks only that we write Corporal Benson and express our support while he undergoes rehabilitation, providing his address at the conclusion of her story:

Corp. Johnathan Benson
c/o Marine Liaison
Brooke Army Medical Center
3851 Roger Brooke Drive
Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6200

We were alerted to Swanson’s story about Corporal Benson by a message from Patrick Tepoorten, who writes:

I was hoping you might help spread the word about Corporal Johnathan Benson of North Branch, Minnesota. Mary Helen Swanson, editor of the Post Review in North Branch, has a story about this brave kid who has been wounded for the second time in Iraq.

He is in pretty rough shape this time, having lost a leg and part of an arm, as well as suffering a number of internal injuries. He is in Texas recovering right now and his family is asking that people consider sending some encouragement his way.

In the interests of full disclosure, Swanson is my editor and this is my newspaper. However, I am not looking to gain from this. I just want to get the word out. I’m hoping you might find it in your hearts to use your much larger platform to spread the word about a pretty fantastic kid fighting for us all.

Any questions can be sent here or to [email protected] during the day. Or direct questions to Swanson at [email protected].

Thanks again,

Pat Tepoorten
http://lesenfantterrible.blogspot.com/

UPDATE: Fuzzilicious Thinking has more here; please check it out.

MORE: Reader John Furutani of Centcom has copied us on his message to Corporal Benson:

Your dedication to service and country is incredible, and your sacrifice is duly noted and thanked. In order to provide a measure of that thanks from one fellow citizen, I will be going to the Valour IT site and donating sufficient monies to fund a voice-activated laptop for your personal use.

I have been in Iraq in 2003 and Afghanistan in 2006, so I am familiar with the conditions which we ask our military to endure for the country’s sake. The fact that you have gone in country–twice—speaks well to your courage and honor.

Again, please accept my thanks on behalf of myself and my family. Please remember during your rehabilitation that you have the support and well wishes of other beyond your immediate family and community.

If any member of your family, or someone close to you, may need frequent flier miles to make the trip to San Antonio, please have them contact me [email address omitted].

Wonderful!

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