Dustin’s Friend Logan
Logan Curtis!
June 20, 2008
Logan with Toby Olsen’s mother and aunt in San Antonio, Texas.
One of the amazing members from Dustin’s squad in Able Company is CPL Logan Curtis, who is recuperating from severe wounds from an IED explosion in Iraq on December 7, 2006. Two other squad members were killed that night, SSG Henry Linck and CPL Micah Gifford, from the same explosion. After being at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas for the past 18 months, Logan’s courage, spirit and great sense of humor remain truly amazing. He has had more than 30 surgeries, is miraculously walking again and other wounds are healing, too.
Logan arrives home in Tampa, FL on con leave from BAMC.
However, earlier this week, Logan became an in-patient again and thought he would have to spend his birthday on June 20th in the hospital for the second year in a row. With determination, Logan was able to return to the barracks and will happily spend his special day away from a hospital room this year. The Donicas and many of the members of the 3/509th military family would like to give a big shout out to Logan on his 26th birthday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOGAN! Our prayers and best wishes for a good recovery are with you.
All the way, Geronimo!
The Center For The Intrepid, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
January 2007, the Donicas and Shoemakers visit Logan
Losing A Friend
Dustin Donica was Logan’s best friend in the Army. Donica’s mother would send caramel apples from Texas, and Logan would steal them at night. When he was finished eating them, he would throw the apple sticks at Donica while he slept. About two weeks after Logan Curtis’ life was forever altered, Donica’s life ended when he was hit by sniper fire in Iraq. Donica was the 3,000th U.S. soldier killed in the war in Iraq. “That really affected Logan a lot,” Logan’s mom, Jan Curtis said. “It was the first time I ever actually saw him cry through this whole thing.”
Logan said Donica had a personality “like no one else I’ve ever met.” “Dustin enjoyed kind of just staying in his house, playing his games and going out on weekends,” he said. “He enjoyed soccer a lot and loved to work out. But he was a very funny guy. He was 22 when he was killed.”
While Logan was first hospitalized at BAMC, Donica’s mother, Judy, brought him caramel apples. She was supposed to visit again the day after her son died. Instead, at Logan’s request, Jan Curtis attended Dustin Donica’s funeral. Since the explosion that nearly killed him, Logan Curtis has been awarded a Purple Heart and Combat Merit Badge, and additional medals are a possibility. Logan realizes he is fortunate to be alive, and he doesn’t complain about his situation.
– From an interview with the Tampa Bay Tribune
See additional photos of Logan on Dustin’s Memorial Website at www.dustindonica.com.
