Pelican Dispatch - Spring 2010 - Keep Trees

His symptoms began with what felt like a pulled chest or
back muscle and was misdiagnosed for months, during which
he lost almost 37 pounds.
“People need to know that you have to ask questions to get
answers,” said Turnage, who agreed to be a guest speaker
and get the word out for a Joint Army/Air National Guard Bone
Marrow Drive scheduled for later this year.
Mission focused, Davis expressed Pete’s wishes to several
Soldiers to help make this black and gold dream a reality.
Sgt. 1st Class Thomas E. Bryson, recruiting and retention
noncommissioned offi cer, said, “I really felt that giving my all to
make this happen for Pete and Eli was the right thing to do…
as a friend and an NCO.”
Not only did Turnage and his son Eli go to the Saints vs.
Cardinals football game Jan. 16, but this joint effort led to the
ultimate sports fan’s day with a Saints limo ride that picked
them up at their home in Walker, La., and two 50-yard-line
game tickets and fi eld passes.
“Just watching Eli smile and having a good time…it’s something
I’ll never forget,” said Turnage.
When asked to describe his favorite part of the game,
7-year-old Eli replied, “The fl ea fl icker,” referring to one of the
trick plays made during the game.
“Considering Pete’s condition, I fi gured the least we could
do was to try and make this happen for him and his family,”
said Sgt. 1st Class Tony Icamina, recruiting and retention noncommissioned
offi cer.
“This helped remind me that we are not alone,” said Noel.
“There are other people
that are on our side,
and they are trying to
squeeze a lifetime of
memories in for us.”
“If this brought just
a little happiness and
some memories, then
we did our job,” said
Icamina.
“Sgt. 1st Class Turnage
has given his life
to thew Guard,” said
Sgt. 1st Class Peter L. Turnage,
his son Eli, and his wife Noel,
hold up their tickets and field
passes while taking a ride to the
New Orleans Superdome Jan.
16. Turnage and his son Eli were
given two 50-yard-line tickets
and field passes to the Saints vs.
Car dinals football game. Fellow
Guardsmen helped make this
dream a reality for Turnage, who
is currently battling bone cancer.
Courtesy photo/released
Bryson. “That being said, I hope that the good times that Pete
and Eli had on that rainy Saturday will last forever.”
Noel said that since Pete’s diagnosis, over 500 meals have
been delivered to them by friends and family. “The city of
Walker and the military have just wrapped their arms around
us,” she said.
“That’s the beauty of the Louisiana National Guard,” said
Davis. “The LANG is a family away from your family, and Soldiers
care and do for others before themselves.”
The Turnages are eternally grateful for all of the cards,
money, and phone calls; however, they are especially thankful
for how protective and present the Guardsmen have been for
their family.
Noel and Pete Turnage have been married since March 2,
1991. They have three children: Mary, 17, Hannah, 14 and
Eli, 7.
“I know that the days that lie ahead will be hard for the Turnage
family, and I hope they know that if they need anything at
all we [Guard] are only a phone call away,” said Bryson.
“We are simply embracing a family member in time of need,”
said Davis of the Guard’s involvement.
“We’ve never been forgotten or pushed to the side,” said
Sgt. 1st Class Turnage about the Guard. “So many days would
just not be bearable without the Guard’s support.”
Please visit http://www.dvidshub.net/units/LAANG for the
latest Louisiana National Guard releases, photos and videos.
Winter/Spring Spring 2010 / Louisiana National Guard 15