Haverford Marine injured in Iraq

Seems that this "WAR" will never end.

Haverford Marine injured in Iraq 07/04/2004 By KATHLEEN E. CAREY kcarey@delcotimes.com HAVERFORD -- Two days after three members of the Marine Corps Reserve Unit from Folsom died and two others were injured in Iraq, a Marine from Haverford was seriously injured after his vehicle ran over a land mine. Cpl. Jason Michael Simms, 26, was serving with Delta Company, Third Platoon, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion,stationed outside Fallujah on July 1 when he and three others riding in a light armored vehicle drove over the mine. One Marine from Tennessee died. One suffered minor injuries, and the other two, including Simms, continue to be treated. "We don’t know the extent of his injuries," his dad, Jim Simms Jr. said. Jason Simms’ parents do know their son is stabilized after surgery in Iraq. They said he has shrapnel in the left side of his body and has been quarantined to prevent infection to his burns. On Thursday, the Simms’ were told Jason would call. "We still haven’t heard from him," Jim Simms said Saturday. "We should have heard from him by now." The family waits by the phone. "It’s like all this going on with the Folsom guys and then this the next day," Simms’ mom, Mary Jean, said from her Grand Avenue home, as two Marine Corps flags flew outside. The Simms said their son will be moved to Germany once he’s stabilized. "He could be on his way there now or it could be in 24 hours," Mary Jean said. "We don’t know when. From Germany, he’ll come back to the states." The 1996 Haverford High School graduate joined the Marines that following January. "He said he was interested in the challenge," his father said. "He mentioned he wanted to serve the country. And, because ‘Once a Marine, always a Marine.’" Simms’ parents were surprised, but they supported his decision. After serving in Hawaii, Jason signed up for another tour last September. "He missed it," Jim said. "He liked the camaraderie." In February, Simms went with his unit to Iraq to replace the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, rejecting a Jacksonville, Fla., assignment. "He had a chance to get out of it," his mother said. "(But) he’d rather stick with his unit." Before he left, Jason encouraged his parents to get passports so they could go to Germany in case he was injured. And although he is en route there, his parents have been told to stay in Haverford in anticipation of his homecoming. His mom remembers learning of his Iraq deployment. "Just like everybody, you think he’ll be fine," she said. "You don’t expect him to get hurt." His dad said, "It’s where he wanted to be." In a letter to his sister, Lindsay, Jason wrote, "You don’t know how lucky you are to live in America." When American troops went door-to-door looking for Saddam Hussein, Jason saw a woman with four children and a baby lying on the floor in a house the size of his Haverford bedroom. Ascertaining that the baby was in bad shape, Jason gave them whatever food and water he had. Jason last talked to his parents on Father’s Day, wishing his dad the best and aching to be with his 4-year-old son, Jason Jr. "Obviously, we are hoping to hear from Jason pretty soon," Jim said. "It’s something you always thought about. It was no consolation for me to hear him say, ‘Don’t worry about me.’ That’s like saying ..‘Don’t snow.’" If he could see the second of his four children, Simms said, "I wouldn’t say anything." All he would do is embrace his Jason, to envelope him, showing him the love and pride a father has for a son. ©The Daily Times 2004