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Public Employee Press
First in a series on DC 37 members in Iraq
Local 1455 member injured in Iraq
Miraculous timing
By JANE LaTOUR
On Tuesday, Dec. 21, Sgt. Kenny Ghany was standing on the chow line in
a mess tent in Mosul, waiting for lunch. Seconds after Sgt. Ghany stepped
away to talk with someone on the other side of the tent, a suicide bomber
detonated his deadly vest.
The huge explosion killed 22 people including 14 U.S. soldiers
and injured 44. Shrapnel pierced the sergeants leg, but his
life was spared.
At their home on Staten Island, wife Lori Ghany learned of the massacre
from the television. Horror-stricken, she called her pastor, who prayed
with her on the telephone.
Moments later, she received a call from her husband, who said he was fine.
Her dread-filled moments waiting for news were a heightened part of the
daily vigil that soldiers families keep as they try to hold onto
hope. The Ghany family has received strong support from their church,
the International Christian Center. All 2,000 congregants have been praying
for the sergeant since the day he left for Iraq, last February.
Ms. Ghany learned of her husbands injury later, after another soldier
e-mailed the Daily News with details.
Somber Christmas
The explosion occurred just days before Christmas. I didnt
send my cards this year, said Lori Ghany. I just wasnt
able to do that. Her children, Richard, 11, and Crystal, 8, set
up the Christmas tree by themselves. They came to me and said: Mommy,
can you help us with the lights? After that, the tree offered
some solace for the little family.
Kenny Ghany, a 14-year veteran Traffic Device Maintainer
for the Dept. of Transportation, is a shop steward in Traffic Employees
Local 1455. Hes a good steward who has solved problems for
a lot of members, said Local President Michael DeMarco. We
are all very proud of him, and we wish him a complete recovery from his
wounds.
Sgt. Ghany has been a member of the U.S. Army National
Guard for over 18 years. He is serving in Iraq with the 204th Engineering
Battalion. They trained for combat, but thats not their primary
mission, explained Ms. Ghany. They construct buildings and
do electrical work.
He volunteered to go to Iraq, she said. He felt it was
his duty. But its getting very bad. It seems that we should be packing
up and getting out of there, she said.
General hits policies
The bloodbath in Mosul occurred inside a heavily fortified military base.
It was one of the worst attacks on U.S. forces since the Iraq war began
22 months ago. Now Lori Ghanys concerns are being echoed at the
top of the chain of command. The chief of the Army Reserve, Lt. Gen. James
Henley, calls the Pentagons policies dysfunctional.
The day before the mess tent attack, Henley issued a bluntly worded memo.
I do not wish to sound alarmist. I do wish to send a clear, distinctive
signal of deepening concern, he wrote.
Kenny has a lot of friends in the DOT, said Lori Ghany. I
know theyre all wishing for his safe return. Were coping pretty
well. We speak to him on the phone a few times a week. As long as hes
in good spirits, it helps us, she said.
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