Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Cowie's dream almost ended when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in May. She was told earlier in the year that she would deploy to Iraq this summer.

The forty-two year old mother is ready for duty after her aggressive treatment plan. She had two surgeries and a five day targeted radiation treatment called MammoSite. Elizabeth will leave later this month with the 1113th Transportation Company of San Jose, California, for at least a year transporting supplies in Iraq.

Elizabeth's mother Pearl said she "isn't surprised that her daughter still wants to deploy. I knew this would not deter her. She was just determined to go. That is the kind of person she is."

U.S. Army Col. Dirk Spanton's back hurt and he felt tired, but then he was wearing a 40-pound flak vest and getting half the amount of sleep, 4 hours a night, most normally get to feel rested and ready to go the next morning. He felt healthy, bench-pressing 205 pounds in repetitions of 10 several times a week, and did not anticipate anything was seriously wrong, other than the physical wear and tear from the rigors of war.

Within days of returning home after three tours and 32 months in Iraq, Spanton fell ill and was taken to the hospital. It was then the back pain and fatigue were explained. He had cancer of the liver bile ducts, and the physicians suspect he had cancer for awhile. Initially, they told him he had two months to live.

Spanton says he feels lucky. "I could have gotten killed while I was over there and not gotten to say goodbye to my family. This way, I'm lucky. How many people get to say goodbye to their kids, their wife and their family? You don't like the short time frame, but it's at least a time frame."

He is currently undergoing chemotherapy. Although it is reported he is gaunt and has lost 40 pounds from the cancer treatments, they feel he might have a few extra months to live if the chemo can shrink the tumor.

Two years ago, during Thanksgiving weekend, my nephew, a fine young man of exceptional character, was killed by a roadside bomb in Ad Duilayah, Iraq. We miss him daily, and it is with special interest I noticed a news story release today about another American soldier in Afghanistan, separated from family and homeland, who is planning to do a run to raise money for breast cancer in the desert of a foreign land. Army 1st Lt. Michael G. Clark, Task Force Muleskinner air movement officer, will run for the Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure, only he won't be doing it in Pittsburgh. Back home, Clark would be running with his family during the annual event they have participated in for the last four years. Clark became involved in the Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure after he lost his grandmother to breast cancer.

"When my grandmother passed away I was very devastated," Clark said. "It was hard on me. Later I decided I wanted to do something to help so that others wouldn't have to go through what I went through, losing someone to breast cancer. That's when I started running for the cure." Although Clark will not be able to run the race with his family members back home, he will be joined by some of his military family members, including his commander and other members of his unit.

Clark will continue collecting donations up until May 14. I went to the Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure website and did a search of race participants for Army 1st Lt. Michael G. Clark and found this donation page. I called the Pittsburgh Race for the Cure affiliate office to verify this is the same person but no one at the office answers. If you wish to donate to his run, I believe this is the correct page to do so, but I cannot verify it with the race officials in Pittsburgh at this time. 

Photo credit:  Sgt. Michael J. Taylor, USA