Soldier survives roadside bomb attack

KENMORE, N.Y. (WIVB) - A western New York soldier has survived a roadside bomb attack overseas. His mother hopes he is sent home and not back to the front lines.

Sgt. David Cross, has been with the Army infantry for seven years. He graduated a year early from Seneca High School to enlist. Last week, his mother Tracy Hewett of Kenmore got a phone message she'll never forget.

"David called and he's alive and he has all his limbs, but he's hurt," said Hewett.

Cross was in one of two convoys hit by roadside bombs in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

"There were six in his truck, the driver lost his life," said Hewett.

David suffered a concussion and originally had no feeling in his legs. Now the nerve damage is in just one leg. If he gets better in the next couple weeks he'll go back to the front lines.

Any mother would want her son to come home after something like that, but especially Tracy. She's an administrator at Dent Neurologic Institute.

Hewett said, "We have the best neurologists and they would love to take care of him, every single one of them has said bring him home, we'll take care of him."

In fact weeks before all this happened, her coworkers helped her gather hygiene products and letters for the troops.

"We sent out ten big boxes, three by four boxes, ten of them already," said Hewett.

"The troops do need to see more support to just bring up their morale, you know 'cause they are away from their families," said David's stepfather Peter Hewett.

For example, David missed the birth of his third child back here in Tonawanda, three days before his injury.

His mom says she knows the President is working on a plan for the eight-year-old war, but, "Either send more out there to help, or send us home," said Hewett.