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Long Rehabilitation Ahead for Wounded Lodi Soldier

Jul-22-2005 » Filed Under: 1/25 SBCT , Charitable Projects

Link to Full Article
KXTV, Sacramento

Family and friends of a Lodi soldier seriously wounded in Iraq are coming together Friday to help raise money for the 23-year-old's costly rehabilitation.

Army Specialist Nick Beintema with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment was one of six soldiers aboard a Stryker armored vehicle in northern Iraq last April when a roadside explosion tore through the vehicle.

Four soldiers died in the blast. Beintema, who was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq, sustained massive injuries, including losing part of his jaw and extensive damage to both legs.

"The kid sitting right next to him was killed. The kid sitting across from him was killed. Nick gets away with just serious injures and, why? I don't know," said Nick's father and San Joaquin County Sheriff's Lt. Randy Beintema.

Doctors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. anticipate several more surgeries for Beintema in the coming months, including bone grafts from Beintema's hip to repair his jaw. Rehabilitation for Beintema are expected to take several years.

Family members are holding a fundraising dinner at the Linden Lion's Club at 5041 N. Market in Stockton Friday to help offset medical costs.

Anyone interesting can also contribute to a special fund for Beintema established through the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department. Contributions can be sent to the Nick Beintema Fund through the San Joaquin County Deputy Sheriffs' Association, P.O. Box 1224, Stockton, 95201.

Note: The fund raising activities are to help defray the travel expenses of his family, not the medical or rehabilitation treatments for SPC Beintema. It is explained better in this news story.

Fund-raiser for soldiers family - The Valley Herald


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