Our Indiana

Image courtesy: U.S. Air Force/Roland Balik

At 1:18 a.m. eastern time on Jan. 7, a soldier with the 81st Troop Command of the Indiana National Guard, currently deployed to Afghanistan, summed up a terrible Friday with just four words.

"Not a good day," he wrote.

On Jan. 6, four of his brothers in arms were killed when terrorists in the volatile Kandahar province attacked the soldier's unit with an improvised explosive device.

Staff Sgt. Jonathan Metzger, 32, Indianapolis, Indiana
Spc. Robert Tauteris Jr., 44, Hamlet, Indiana
Spc. Christopher Patterson, 20, Aurora, Illinois
Spc. Brian Leonhardt, 21, Merrillville, Indiana

These four National Guardsmen served together, died together, and came home to the nation they fought for together. The tear-inducing image above shows the fallen heroes' flag-draped caskets arriving at Delaware's Dover Air Force Base for a solemn dignified transfer ceremony on Sunday.

Amid great pain, there is also reason for hope in the state of Indiana. A fifth soldier -- Pvt. Doug Rachowicz, 29, of Hammond -- managed to survive the attack, according to The Times of Northwest Indiana. A moving article by Lindsay Machak contains an interview with the soldier's father, Gerald Rachowicz.

"I thought my son was dead, too, but he was the survivor," he told the newspaper. "If I could talk to the other parents, I would apologize and tell them that I knew their sons. They were good kids."

Pvt. Rachowicz, who is married with two children, was reportedly driving the Army vehicle that was blown apart by the terrorist-planted roadside bomb. The article said he suffered injuries to his lungs, pelvis, back, jaw, and sinus cavity. The wounded warrior is back in the United States for a series of emergency surgeries.

"He was able to answer questions and move his feet and hands, but he is still in serious condition," the worried dad told the reporter. "I don't know if he will remember the explosion."

With the national media converged on the state of New Hampshire for hours and hours of endless political coverage, many Americans aren't aware of what five families in Indiana and Illinois have been going through since news of this tragedy began to spread over the weekend.

Gov. Mitch Daniels tried to convey the anguish being felt by the Indiana National Guard community and his entire state.

"My prayers are joined with those of millions of Hoosiers who will hear this terrible news with deep grief but also with gratitude for the courage of those we have lost, and pride that we come from a state that produces men such as these," Gov. Daniels said.

Like the grieving soldier posted, Friday was not a good day. The Metzger, Tauteris, Patterson, and Leonhardt families are in our thoughts and prayers, as are Pvt. Rachowicz and his family -- especially the soldier's children -- as he begins the long road to recovery from deep physical and emotional trauma. Even as Indiana mourns, the courage of this wounded warrior is an inspiration to the nation he fought for.

As the 81st Troop Command of the Indiana National Guard continues to fight in Afghanistan, all Americans should share in the grief and pride of the Hoosier State. While the losses are crushing, these brave soldiers, their families, and their fellow Hoosiers are setting an example for the rest of the nation during a time of war.

Before we go to sleep tonight under a blanket of freedom, let us thank God for the great state of Indiana.

Image courtesy: Sgt. William Henry