A letter of thanks and encouragement

Dear Editor,
I recently read an article in the Morning Sun Online concerning the wounding of a Soldier from Pittsburg. The Soldiers name is SGT Matthew Lamb and he is serving in 3-1 IN, in northeastern Afghanistan. In recent months, this area of Afghanistan has been one of the most active considering enemy action and SGT Lamb and his company are involved in daily operations throughout this region.
On 16AUG2008, SGT Lamb and his Soldiers were involved in an Improvised Explosive Device attack while on a convoy to resupply other soldiers in his unit. As the vehicle commander, SGT Lamb was in charge of the Soldiers in that vehicle and immediately took charge of the situation, although wounded, and helped coordinate for the first aid and security of the inured Soldiers.
My team arrived on site shortly after the initial blast and helped establish security, conduct first aid and investigate the IED site. SGT Lamb deserves great credit for his actions 16AUG2008 and his ability to maintain control of the situation and care for his men while wounded. After we had evacuated SGT Lamb and his Soldiers for medical treatment, my team and the remaining elements of the convoy continued to receive enemy fire. After the direct fire engagement with the enemy ended, we were able to safely move the convoy away from the area and secure all remaining personnel. SGT Lamb's efforts prior to his evacuation helped us establish the security we needed to ensure that the rest of the convoy made it back safely.
My name is CPT Kevin Beasley and I am originally from Girard. I am also currently serving in this same area of Afghanistan and conduct daily operations with SGT Lamb's company. On this day, I was supporting that company with combat assets in support of the Improvised Explosive Device attack. In the war on terror, all Army units are a combined force of fighting men and women with a single objective. We meet people from all across the country and all over the world. However, we must also realize and remember that each one of us is tied to the other, sometimes closer than we think, as illustrated with this account. SGT Lamb and I probably grew up less than 20 miles from each other and attended schools in Crawford County at the same time. And on the battlefield of a far away land, we again were linked, not by geography, but by the task at hand and the operation we were conducting.
I want to take this time to tell SGT Lamb and his family thank you for the sacrifices that they have all made to support the Soldiers and families. As a Soldier, we are taught and trained to protect and secure our fellow Soldiers. Sometimes that training takes on a new meaning, especially when the incident hits so close to home, literally. When we think that the Soldiers fighting in far off lands are far removed from our everyday lives, accounts like this illustrate how close all of us actually are to the action. Two Soldiers from rural Southeast Kansas share the experience of an operation more than 8,000 miles from where they grew up.
SGT Lamb, I wish you a speedy recovery and applaud you for your efforts in caring for and securing your Soldiers. You truly fulfilled the warrior ethos by your actions that day. You bring great credit to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines serving around the world in support of this great effort.
Very Respectfully,
Kevin M. Beasley
CPT, AR
Counter IED Asadabad OIC
Asadabad, Afghanistan