Fort Report: From Heartache to Love

A few weeks ago, I was asked to participate in a ceremony honoring the life of an Army Ranger who gave his life for his country. In the American Legion hall in the small town of Osceola, the community gathered to dedicate a street for one of their native sons, Captain Rob Yllescas, who died from injuries sustained in Afghanistan. The little hall looks about the same as it's always been. A framed display showcased military uniforms from WWII, ceiling tiles were decorated with flags and the names of club members, and on the wood paneled walls hung a rifle and Legion memorabilia. Rob's family and friends were joined by the Patriot Guard riders, Gold Star mothers, and families who have lost loved ones.

It was not a somber ceremony, but a celebration of the gift of Rob Yllescas' life. His widow Dena and their two children were there. With great dignity, Dena spoke of the man she loved. Their daughter Julia, 14, sang "This is Still the Land of the Free." Then little Eva, 7, sang and danced to "Grand Old Flag." For a moment, I thought I was watching Shirley Temple.

I never had the pleasure of meeting Rob, but by all accounts he was a remarkable man. After graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he was commissioned into the United States Army, and served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan where he took command of a troop within the 1st Infantry Division, known as "Big Red One." In Afghanistan, he was critically injured by an explosion. Dena thinks he may have been singled out by a paid assassin. As he commanded his troops to cross a bridge one at a time, Rob was targeted. Rob's injuries were terribly severe but he survived over a month at the Bethesda Naval Medical Center. On November 10, 2008, President George W. Bush came into the hospital room wearing a surgical mask and awarded Rob the Purple Heart.

As difficult as this has been for her, Dena has gone on with life and married another wonderful man named John. At the ceremony, John told Dena that one of his biggest regrets was that he never had a chance to know Rob. Dena and John together have a baby boy.

After Rob's death, Dena told me that her daughter Julia wished she'd been able to meet President Bush. Eva was an infant at the time, but Julia was 7 and not at the hospital. This week, it finally happened. President Bush was in Washington to give a speech on how the business community can better help veterans. Through the generosity of his former Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, connections were made and the President agreed to see Dena, Julia, Eva, John, and baby Carsten. Unexpectedly, the President and Laura Bush spent about 30 minutes with them. As they hugged, Dena asked the President, "Do you remember me?" President Bush replied, "Of course I remember you!" The President was light-hearted and kept calling John "Big Man," adding, "They grow them big in Nebraska." As you may remember, President Bush was known for giving everyone a nickname.

We talked about the family's time in the hospital and the aftermath, and the President's ongoing work with injured veterans. With kind sincerity, the President asked if anything should have been handled better for her and the family. Dena also asked him if he misses being president. "Nope!" came the immediate answer.

Dena had brought several copies of the President's book Decision Points. While he was signing them, she mentioned to the President that she had considered writing her own story. The President jokingly responded: "It's easier than you think." But then with a gentle seriousness, he looked at Dena and told her that she should write the book -- and to call it "From Heartache to Love."

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