OT: Clay County, Kentucky native, Staff Sergeant Mitch Philpot, was recently added to that list after being wounded during a roadside bomb attack

Eastern Kentucky Soldier Injured in Iraq
Dec 20, 2005, 01:21 AM


More than 2,100 U.S. troops have died in Iraq, and many more have been
injured.
A Clay County native, Staff Sergeant Mitch Philpot, was recently added to
that list after being wounded during a roadside bomb attack.
His family talked to Mountain News about the pain of not knowing if their
loved one will come back home alive.
"That was my first thought... that was a blessing my child was alive," said
Deanna Philpot, Mitch's mother. "We just prayed and thanked God he was
alive."
About two and a half weeks ago they got the dreaded call; Philpot had been
injured.
"He said, 'Now mom, don't panic. There's something I'm going to tell you.
Do not freak out, do not freak out.' I was numb," said Deanna Philpot.
"I didn't hear from him for four days, and I had a gut feeling that
something was wrong," said Susan Philpot, Mitch's wife.
Philpot's face was badly burned in a roadside bomb attack in Tikrit, Iraq.
"He was driving a gun truck. He was the first truck in the convoy, and they
swerved over and hit a land mine," said Susan Philpot.
By the time his mother and wife had talked to him, Philpot was already out
of surgery and recovering, but being thousands of miles from a hurt loved
one can be heart-wrenching.
"No matter what anyone tells you, you think if I could just see him for
myself I'd know he's fine," said Deanna Philpot.
This is a military family, and the pride is obvious, especially with
Philpot's son, Shawn.
"This is my dad Staff Sergeant Philpot. Right here he's carrying an M-16
with a grenade launcher..." said Shawn Philpot.
Philpot has now been released from the hospital. His family said he doesn't
talk about the accident a lot over the phone, but he assures them he's ok.
They have a good idea why.
"The Lord's with him, and he knows that," said Susan Philpot.
Philpot has been in Iraq since last December and will likely return home
around the end of January.