When Eron and Eric Lindsey's mother, Donna, was the principal of the West Early Childhood Center, both soldiers attended Veterans Day events to speak to the elementary students about serving as U.S. soldiers in the Middle East.

One of the 40-year-old Lindsey twins, Eric, was injured Monday in Afghanistan, where both are serving with the Iowa National Guard 133rd Infantry.

Eric's unit was returning from a mission when their vehicle hit an IED. The blast injured Eric, causing compression fractures in his back. Another soldier, Tim Bagley from Independence, was also injured, suffering a broken jaw and other injuries.

"Eric is doing remarkably well," said Donna Lindsey, who retired a few years ago.

Donna said Eric was taken to Andrews Air Force Base over the weekend, and later transferred to Fort Gordon in Augusta, Ga. Bagley is also with him, she said.

Gary and Donna Lindsey, along with Eric's wife and baby, are flying to Georgia this weekend, courtesy of the Air Compassion for Veterans organization. Because Eric is now in out-patient care, the family does not qualify for military-funded transportation. But the non-profit organization is helping the Lindseys, as well as the Bagley family. (If you'd like to donate to this organization, click here!)

The Lindsey twins joined the Iowa National Guard at about the same time. "Eron joined first and went to Afghanistan on his first tour. Eric joined shortly later and went to Iraq," said Lindsey.

But on their second deployment to the Middle East, the siblings went together to Afghanistan, although Donna does not know exactly where. The unit left last August.

"All I know is that Eron is about 200 to 300 miles from Eric," she said.

Jared Parmater, another member of the 133rd who once served in the unit with a sibling, Ben, is also deployed with the 133rd, where he is in the same battalion as Eron Lindsey. "He's a captain now," said his mother, Pam. She said the unit is scheduled to return to the U.S. in July.

Retirement life for Lindsey

Donna said she is busy, enjoying retirement with her family. She was able to care for her mother during her illness before her death last year. Her father is in Rock Ridge Care Center in Shellsburg. Donna plays checkers with him most days. She and Gary still live north of Shellsburg. Donna's niece, Amy Pragon, had triplets, and Donna spends a lot of time with them.

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