UPDATE: Lt. Colonel Karcher’s Homecoming
EmailABC’s Martha Raddatz reports with an update on Lieutenant Colonel Tim Karcher: A week after losing both legs to a powerful roadside bomb in Iraq, LTC Timothy Karcher's condition was finally stable enough to fly to the United States. He arrived on a medivac flight at Andrews Air Force base on Sunday and was taken immediately to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. where his wife, Alesia waited. The couples' three young daughters are staying in Texas until their father is stabilized further. I have been in regular touch with Alesia since LTC Karcher was hurt and find her strength remarkable. It was profoundly tested at Walter Reed. As soon as Tim arrived he had to have his wounds cleaned again, so Alesia waited patiently in the ward where so many of America's military still heal. Alesia had invited me to the hospital, and I arrived about thirty minutes after she had had her reunion with her husband. I did not visit LTC Karcher, I would not have wanted to intrude on that first day. But I know he was surrounded by love from Alesia and fellow soldiers, one of whom had been in the hospital when LTC Karcher recovered from a gunshot wound to the shoulder on a previous deployment to Iraq. Another old Army friend of his, Colonel Franklin Childress had accompanied him from Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany where he had not left LTC Karcher's side. Everyone who visited LTC Karcher said he was strong and trying to remain upbeat. But it was clearly emotional and trying for all who were with him. Alesia was gracious and said again how much the support and love she has received from people she doesn't even know has helped the family. She has no doubt her family will make it through. She has no doubt her husband will be up and around as soon as he can. She also clearly knows after seeing her husband yesterday that it will be a long hard road. But here is what I loved about yesterday in the sadness of that hospital. Alesia Karcher looked stunningly beautiful. She wore a bright, fitted red-orange sleeveless dress, her hair and makeup giving no sign of the trauma she has been through. She greeted her wounded husband as if it was a first date. She had after all, not seen him since he deployed four months ago. And this was the third time he had returned from deployment. She is used to welcoming him home, making it special. This time was going to be no different. I loved that. You can read Martha's earlier reports on Karcher HERE, HERE and HERE.
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What a heartwarming update on Tim Karcher! We will continue to pray, help the family and support the military men and women around the world!! God is with you Tim and Alesia! God Bless you, God Bless our Soldiers and God Bless America!
Posted by: Carla H. | July 6, 2009, 10:30 am 10:30 am
Tim – you will recover. With that kind of love from your wife and family and with your faith in God, you will make it. I hope to see you at Ft. Hood sometime in the future.
Posted by: Doug Young | July 6, 2009, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
TIM-WE(AMERICANS)PRAY CONTINUALLY FOR THE MILITARY. BUT TODAY, SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. BEING A WIDOW, I HAVE A SON RECENTLY BACK FROM IRAQ AND LOOKING AT AFGHANISTAN. I FEEL YOUR PAIN AND WORRY. GOD BLESS YOU NOW AND ALWAYS—-NANCY B
Posted by: NANCY | July 6, 2009, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
Welcome home, Sir: We’ve been waiting for you …
God bless you & all of our troops.
Posted by: brucie | July 6, 2009, 7:57 pm 7:57 pm
Dear Ms. Raddatz,
I have always had a profound respect for you, your phenomenal knowledge of incredibly complex issues and the overall professionalism with which you always conduct yourself. I have always enjoyed your appearances on both ABC News and Washington Week in Review, but you have taken my respect for you to new heights. I could not concentrate to finish reading this story because I was so blown away by the fact that you did not seize the opportunity to try to talk to LTC Karcher within hours of his arrival at Walter Reed.
Your professionalism and compassion, in this moment when many others would not have been able to restrain their opportunistic instincts, make you something very special.
Sincerely yours,
Michael O’Donnell
US Navy
PS I’m going back to finish your story now.
Posted by: Michael O'Donnell | July 6, 2009, 8:52 pm 8:52 pm
God Bless the Karcher Family. The LTC and his family are American Heroes. I will keep them all in my prayers and Thank you Martha for reporting about this fine soldier. More of American needs to know his story instead of the 24/7 coverage of Michael Jackson. RIP but enough already.
Posted by: julie | July 6, 2009, 10:23 pm 10:23 pm
Thank you, Ms Raddatz. I agree very much with Michael O’Donnell.
To the entire Karcher family, and to LTC Karcher’s soldiers and their families … you are all in my daily prayers. I appreciate all of your sacrifices for our beloved country. You are the salt of the earth. God bless you.
Posted by: Maggie Goff | July 7, 2009, 3:09 am 3:09 am
Hi Tim,
This is your cousin Stuart in St. Louis. We are thinking of you hourly, and praying for your return to health. We are honored to know and be related to you…and God Bless You and the troops who stand for freedom and democracy.
We are all proud of you and your dedication. I know you will keep that strong chin up high !
Stuart
Posted by: Stuart Freeman | July 7, 2009, 10:25 am 10:25 am
Thanks again to Martha Raddatz for the update and for your sensitivity to the family. LTC Karcher is in my prayers and the prayers of friends. God bless!
Posted by: Janet DeWitt | July 7, 2009, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
welcome home tim! joy and gabe and i are remembering you and alesia and the girls in our prayers.
Posted by: nancy | July 7, 2009, 1:56 pm 1:56 pm
Martha Raddatz-thank you so much for covering this story on Tim in such a kind and dignified way. Tim and Alesia were our dear friends while stationed at Ft. Benning , Georgia. It is obvious from your writing that you have gotten to know and love them as we do. Tim is one of the most courageous men I know and I am proud to call him friend. WE are praying for Tim and Alesia daily, as well as for Anna, Audrey and Abbey. What a special family! Keep the updates coming and again thank you for showing the world the wonderful man that Tim is to so many!
Sincerely,
Barbara
Posted by: Barbara Gaither | July 7, 2009, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm
Thank you Martha for your continual coverage on LTC Tim Karcher. I cannot say anything more about your professionalism that has not already been said; you have added a wonderful human caring element to your writings and we can feel your pain. I was a neighbor of Tim’s in St. Louis and remember him as a young child; his family lived across the street from us. His parents always kept us informed of the Karcher children with great pride. My elderly father, Warren, relayed the devastating news to us that Sunday evening via a phone call from Tim’s Dad, Ray. We have been praying constantly for all the Karchers and thank you, Tim for your sacrifices to keep us safe. God Bless you all…you are heroes. gratefully, Vicki and Mike Grady and family.
Posted by: Vicki Follansbee Grady | July 8, 2009, 5:33 am 5:33 am
all of us at 2-5 cav are wishing you the best. your boys will come home safe with the mission complete. God Bless you. You will always be my Battalion Comander. Hooah sir
Posted by: PV2 Dittmar | July 8, 2009, 6:00 am 6:00 am
Hey All,
I was LTC Karcher’s (then CPT) Training NCO in Germany with the OPFOR. I went and seen him today at Walter Reed, dropped off some Cigars. He’s still a little groggy, but his grip and spirit are strong. He does not want to be in that hospital! I know he thanks everyone for their thoughts and prayers. I’ll keep everyone up to date as I can.
Posted by: Joseph Carr | July 9, 2009, 8:48 pm 8:48 pm
We miss you sir. and hope your doing well,we’ll be leaving jss ur soon and hope to see you back home at hood.
Posted by: pfc.Clary | November 4, 2009, 7:45 pm 7:45 pm
THANKS TO THE LTC, HIS FAMILY AND SOILDERS, YOU ALL HELP US REMEMBER WHAT LIVING IN AMERICA IS REALLY ABOUT….
Posted by: KC | December 23, 2009, 9:02 pm 9:02 pm