Dear Daniel: Students make Valentines for injured soldier

Pfc. Daniel Tingle collected 22 pen pals Friday as third graders at Jacks Valley Elementary School made valentines to send off to the wounded soldier who is recovering from a foot injury at an Army medical center in Texas.

"Dear Daniel," wrote Kayla Wingerd, 8. "We've been learning a lot about you. You are cool. I think you are a(we)some."

The students in Maggie Kersten's class have been following Tingle's progress in The Record-Courier since he was wounded Jan. 6 in Baghdad.

Tingle, 21, and his brothers and sister attended Jacks Valley Elementary School and the students were eager to invite him for a visit.

Tingle's mother, Tina Luce, visited the students Friday as they prepared their valentines and answered questions about her 21-year-old son's progress.

"He is doing much better," she said.

They wanted to know how he was getting around, what his wound looked like and if he would be able to return to duty.

"After I read the story, I pictured him in my head driving around. I had a dream about it," said Alex Sandoval, 8.

"I'm glad he's being optimistic," Alex said. "I think he's really a great person sticking up for our country."

It was 9-year-old Ty Maurer's idea to add purple hearts to the valentines to commemorate the Purple Heart that Tingle was awarded after his injury.

In his card, Ty wrote:

"Dear Daniel. I heard you went to JVES. Well I go there too. I hope you get better. PS. Happy Valentine's Day. PPS: Yo!"

Seth Jezek, 9, wrote to Tingle that he was concerned about the soldier's left foot which doctors are working to save.

"If you lose your foot, you will get over it because you are strong," Seth wrote.

The students also watched a video about Brooke Army Medical Center where Tingle is undergoing therapy. He is recovering from his 14th operation.

Tingle was a motor pool driver with the 2nd Brigade Support Battalion and with his truck when his unit was attacked Jan. 6. His left ankle was shattered and six bones were broken in his left foot. He also suffered shrapnel wounds in both legs.

"We've been reading the Internet and the newspaper and we knew that Daniel went to school here," Kersten said. "We just appreciate what he's done and wanted him to know that."

Eight-year-old Adrian Gonzalez said he hoped Tingle could visit the school if he comes home on leave.

"Get better soon," Adrian wrote to his new friend. "I think you are nice."

Students at St. Teresa of Avila Elementary School in Carson City also sent 160 handmade valentines to Tingle and other injured soldiers at the army hospital.

St. Teresa principal Chris Perdomo said Friday the project was part of the school's celebration of Catholic Schools Week.

"Every student wrote a note," she said. "Some of them wrote, 'Thank you for fighting,' and 'We pray for you every day.' It was very, very sweet. We were giving a little food for their souls."

In an interview last week, Tingle said the outpouring of support is invaluable as he tends to his emotional and physical needs.

"I am healing pretty good, but emotionally, I'm struggling sometimes," he said. "Part of me still feels lost. I think what upsets me the most is that nobody really knows the danger we put ourselves through and the stuff we go through as soldiers."

Tingle said he worries about the troops he left behind and mourns the friends he lost, including Pfc. Brandon Williams of Gardnerville who was killed in October.

"I miss my brothers," he said.

The young soldier said he relies on his family and his wife, Megan.

"My wife has taken the biggest role of all," he said.

They met June 26, 2006, in Fort Carson, Colo., where Tingle was stationed and married in August before he was deployed to Iraq.

Megan Tingle has been at his side since he was moved to Brooke Army Medical Center in January.

"She said 'yes' to me, God knows why," he said of their whirlwind courtship. "But it's been the best thing to come into my life. She's been at my side and stuck with me through all of this."

He is eager to return to his unit and hopes for a trip home to visit family many of whom served in the military.

"It gives me that sense of security to know I have family and friends who believe in the same things and love this country as much as I do," he said. "Everybody's been there for me."

And now that includes the entire student body at St. Teresa of Avila School in Carson City and 22 third-graders at Jacks Valley Elementary School.

"I would like to invite you to our class," Alex Sandoval wrote. "Thank you for fighting in Iraq and bring your Purple Heart."

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