John Masson: Wounded Afghanistan War Hero
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On October 16th 2010, our Lake Station Indiana hometown hero was severely W.I.A. during a time of war against terrorism and the protection of our freedom as well as others freedom. In his time of service, he recently sacrificed a substantial portion of everyday life for his dedication and devotion to our country and those abroad. While his injuries will present a different lifestyle of feats and accomplishments, we are thankful that he is still among us. We appreciate and hurt with you brother.
With love, your Community.
Freedom is not free.
He said he would walk again!!!
John at Surf Camp
Virginia Beach
A Hero's Welcome
I am so proud and still amazed of all that has happened and continues to happen. I am still reading each and every post on the website and I am absolutely honored that this beautiful gift to me from my friends and family continues to grow. As I have said before these are truly the reasons why we service members fight and why we continue to fight over and over. Reasons such as the beautiful reception I received when I came back home. That was purely love, and I felt it deep inside. While the motorcade continued on through Portage, Lake Station, and on to the American Legion, tears of joy ran down my cheeks throughout the entire ride. Many people were waving American flags in support. The love that my family and I felt from those involved and other members in local communities (from people we have never met,) will forever remain in our hearts. As we continued on with this awesome homecoming, I couldn’t help but to think about my team, my other Special Forces brothers, and all other service members who have fought, to include those in the past and those who are still fighting oversees. I wish them the same welcome home as I received. Please continue to pray for them and never forget the sacrifices they have made. They continue to fight for America and for many other Nations. Nations who wish to live as we do, free and without fear. Which is the same fear our (now) enemies wish to create in our minds. That is why we fight. So we Americans may live in the best country in the world.
I want to thank all of those who have donated to the website, the benefit and personally to me and my family. Thank you so much. It means so much (to us) that you all care for my health, and you love me as family member, as a friend, and as a stranger. Your donations will contribute to my health needs and also to other needs my family and I will incur. As I continue to read the posts on the website I see there were some of you who were unable to attend my benefit. I totally understand the reasons for not attending and absolutely do not take it personal. Thank you for your kindness and posts. There are just so many who contributed to this event and it is amazing. Many of you have full time jobs and volunteered your free time for months (for us) to pull this off. Some of you whom I have never even known, and to those I do know, I feel I never got the chance to personally thank you. God bless you for your sacrifice before, and especially during the event. You all have my thanks and in the future I wish to meet in person and give you thanks yet again. To all the policemen, fire fighters, paramedics and others in the motorcade, that was just awesome, as I described it in the beginning of this letter. God bless you all for what you believe in and for what you do. The sacrifices you give, as you all risk your lives (every day for the safety of your communities,) are valiant. The motorcades end was magnificent; I return your salutes.
Three communities were involved in the motorcade, and to the leaders of these communities I thank you again for dedicating these resources and for also attending the benefit. These leaders are: Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist, Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor (whom I have personally known for many years as a wonderful, kind and loving man and an excellent leader,) and Portage Mayor Olga Velazquez. Your donations were fit for the most perfect homecoming. Bravo and salutes to the Indiana Patriot Guard, the Freedom Riders, the American Legion, The VFW, the DAV and the Purple Heart Association. You all have made our country great with battles fought in Europe and in the Pacific Isles. Veterans from Vietnam and Korea wars received nothing on their return but insults and hate. When it came time for my generation to fight (Desert Storm) those veterans made sure to not let the same welcome happen to us. To Precoat Metals and their employees, Sequa, and all the steel workers along Lake Michigan with the USWA, God bless you all, thank you so much for your hard shift work. I have worked those jobs and fighting in a war seems easier to me than what you do. You all are the heart of America.
Here comes the hard part. To my family and friends who were with me from the moment of finding out I was seriously wounded, and began to cry, and hope, and pray for God’s grace to be upon me during my most helpless time of my life, and during the three days of not knowing if I were to live or die; I love you. With tears in my eyes and a stuffy nose as I am thinking of you and your gift to me, I love you. I’m certain you all prayed me back to life, I love you. You know who you are as there are so many and I so badly wish to name you all, but I know I will forget some, and I would hate for that to happen. However, you know who you are, as you started this beautiful moment which is still in motion. Those who were close to me in school, and were by my side for a time or for the entire time I was just back home, visited me in the hospital, or never got he chance to be by my side, I love you so much. To those who quickly spread the news so many would support by and through starting the website, talking to the radio show hosts and the media, once again you know who you are and I love you. And I admire that you continue to work through this second benefit even though a long break is well deserved. I love you brother.
As this message comes to an end (finally huh,) I know (as many people have told me,) that my attitude has inspired them to do things they have been wishing to do for years such as getting re-acquainted with an old friend, to starting college, to many other inspired thoughts. Our wonderful city of Lake Station came together and came tight. Please stay that way. If my sacrifice keeps you all in peace and together, then it was worth it to sacrifice my losses. Please stay in touch with myself and one another and remember our country as we are still at war and may be for a time to come. As long as there is a fighting breath in our service members they will continue to fight. Please never forget what the enemy has done and what they are capable of doing. And most important what they want to do. Thank you all, God bless you and God Bless America. We love you all through peace, love and kindness.
With our deepest thanks….
SFC John Masson,
Dustina, Jonathan, Morgan,
and Ethan Masson