Soldier dies of bomb wounds- Mich. native hit in Iraq last month

[Ruby Romaine]

After seeing his son's burned and broken body at a hospital in Texas, Don Akers returned to his northern Michigan home to prepare for a long stint away.

He packed clothes and personal items to bring back to the Brooke Army Medical Center, where his 35-year-old son, a sergeant with the Michigan Army National Guard, fought for his life after an improvised explosive device exploded under his vehicle in Iraq on Nov. 21.
"I figured we'd be down there for a year, year and a half, for rehab," Akers, 66, said Sunday.

But his son, Sgt. Spencer Akers of Traverse City, lost the battle Thursday, dying from the extensive wounds he suffered in the blast. He sustained burns over more than 60% of his body; his family said he had no live tissue remaining on his face and head.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051212/NEWS02/512120309

[Binka]

1. RIP Baby

This poor guy only had a 10% chance of recovery. I remember the original thread. The father said then they didn't expect him to make it. RIP BABY!

[wtbymark]

2. and I assume not a part of the toll

I hear that if they are in a helicopter, or hospital outside Iraq, that they aren't counted in the death toll.

[Binka]

4. Not Correct. He Is Counted. He Is On The List Already.

http://icasualties.org/oif/Details.aspx

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

5. Not true.

You might wish to talk to the people who independently track the death toll at icasualties.org, some of whom post at DU. They've repeatedly said that this is untrue, and that deaths outside of Iraq, in the air, etc are counted.

[zanne]

3. What a horrible way to die.

I hate to hear about soldiers who were wounded and brought home only to suffer until they die.

[5thGenDemocrat]

6. Sgt Akers and the others were all from our hometown ANG unit

"B" Company, 125th Infantry Battalion, 38th (Cyclone) Division -- based here in Saginaw. I believe Sgt. Akers is the fourth soldier out of our armory to die in Iraq since Billy Bob Hitler got his war on. The other three soldiers in the Humvee along with the sergeant and Private Deering (who died instantly) were injured just as severely. While I'm hoping this is the last fatality report in the Detroit Free Press (and, of course, the Saginaw News) from this particular explosion, I've got a sense of dread that it isn't going to be.
John
It's rapidly getting so I give less than a fuck about what happens to Iraq or the Iraqis. I just want our troops home NOW.