Via e-mail -- Thank you for the outstanding cover story on Staff Sgt. Matt Slaydon and his wife ("The Price of Freedom," May/June 2008 issue, page 8). The courage of both Matt and Annette in dealing with his injuries is unfathomable. Matt is truly a hero, but Annette is no less so. They are two individuals with lots of strength of character and heart. Thank you, Slaydons, for your service and sacrifice to this country's freedom and for continuing to inspire the rest of us ... even during your darkest days.
Josh Hines
Via e-mail
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I am a member of the 162nd Fighter Wing, Tucson Air National Guard. I was in our base dental office waiting for an exam when I glanced at the cover of your latest issue of Torch. I stared at it for several seconds when I realized I knew the person in the cover photo. I was Staff Sgt, Matt Slaydon's roommate at Osan Air Force Base, South Korea, and later at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. I haven't seen Matt in almost 11 years, but I remember him as very dedicated and brave. His story really hits home as far as the war in Iraq. ... It brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for printing powerful articles about real people.
Staff Sgt. Daniel A. CrowlÂ
Tucson, Ariz.
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From cover-to-cover, your May/June 2008 issue was full of interesting stories ... one of your best yet. Not surprisingly, your cover story stood out. From the opening photo to the last line of the article, I couldn't stop reading about the Slaydons. As somebody who also loves my job, it brought tears to my eyes when reading about how badly Matt still wants to be a part of the bomb squad, even after all it has cost him. When I read his quote, "If I could get just one eye back, I'd go to Iraq with this claw in a flat second," I welled up with pride. He is a true patriot.
Capt. P. "Red" Barron
National Guard