Community Rallying Support for Wounded Soldier

FAYETTE COUNTY, Ga. --  U.S. Army Lt. Dan Berschinski, 25, a lifelong resident of Hapeville and Peachtree City, was severely wounded in an IED explosion in Afghanistan, in August.  He lost both legs, and is still undergoing treatment at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. 

Friends and neighbors have been rallying support for Lt. Berschinski and his parents, who live in Peachtree City.  Bob and Susan Berschinski have been at their son's side non-stop.  They run a small business, with only four employees, but they take turns being with Dan, a week at a time, commuting between home and D.C. 

Donations of money and frequent-flyer miles have helped the Berschinskis make the weekly round-trips.  And the volunteers raising money are also trying to buy Dan a specially-outfitted car, and a condo or small house configured to his needs. 

Here is the link to the blog that Fayetteville Professional Photographer Rainy Chastine, a long-time family friend, publishes about Lt. Dan Berschinski's progress at Walter Reed:

http://danberschinski.blogspot.com/

Donations can be made to a PayPal link on the blog, or to:

SouthCrest Bank

105 St. Stephens Court, Suite A

Tyrone, GA  30290

For those who'd like to send cards and letters to Lt. Berschinski, the address is:

Lt. Dan Berschinski

c/o Walter Reed Medical Hospital

Bldg. 2, Ward 57

6900 Georgia Ave., NW

Washington, DC  20307 

"This is our friend, this is a kid from our community, a young man who is the face of every soldier," Chastine said Wednesday night at her photography studio in Fayetteville.  "It doesn't matter what you feel about the war, this is Dan.  This is someone's child.  He is going to have a long road ahead of him."

She said she couldn't just sit back; she speaks of being compelled, somehow, to help.

"I mean, I have time right now.  And, you know what?  During this recession, you can sit around and think about how bad business is, or you can buckle down and start concentrating on something else... So we're going to try and get him the vehicle, and he's got to have his house rebuilt, wherever he decides to live."

A motorcylce ride in October raised $10,000.  Change boxes at retailers have collected hundreds of dollars, so far.  A fund-raiser at a Chick-Fil-A restaurant last week raised $1,500.

Others have given of themselves.

"In just little small ways," Chastine said.  "Someone offered to frame his Purple Heart.  Somebody offered to build him a ramp.  Anything they can do.  Make a scrapbook.  Everybody's coming forward with what their little talents are, what their big talents are, and making his new life come together."

Bob Berschinski said the community outreach is overwhelming to the family.

"The level of support here -- I can't even walk into a store without somebody coming up and talking to me about it," he said Thursday night in Fayette County.  He had just finished one of his many, daily phone conversations with Susan at their son's bedside in Washington.

"People have been just wonderful... Two and a half months ago, he was just a mess.  You can see the pictures [now], we basically have our son back.... I have nothing but thanks and praise" for medics in the field, for the physicians who saved Dan's life and the health and rehab professionals who are helping him recover, and for the neighbors, friends and strangers who have reached out to help.

"All I can think about," Chastine said, "is how fortunate we are to have Dan still here.  'Phase Two' is what he calls it.  But still here.  And the community's so proud to help Dan."