Montana

Miles City Marine critically injured in Afghanistan

Posted: Jul 18, 2012 7:32 AM by Q2 News
Updated: Jul 18, 2012 7:32 AM

BILLINGS - According to the Miles City Star, a Montana U.S. Marine was critically injured last week while serving in Afghanistan.

Miles City native Lcpl. Chris Bogner, 22, was reportedly struck by an IED, or improvised explosive device, last Wednesday.

The Miles City Star reports Bogner's parents, Keith and Connie Bogner, who live in Miles City, were flown to Germany by the U.S. Marines to where their son was transported to recover from collapsed lungs, shrapnel injuries and brain swelling.

Q2 reached out to the U.S. Marine Corps to confirm Bogner's status, however the service branch declined to comment due to protocol.

A Facebook page set up in support for Bogner's recovery confirms Bogner's parents are with their son overseas.

The community of Miles City and many family and friends have left their well wishes on the page.

Kieth Bogner most recently updated the post on Tuesday evening in Germany, and the post seems to point toward positive progress being made in Bogner's recovery. It says, "It is now 6:00pm tuesday here. First of all you guys are amazing!!!!!! The support,the thoughts,the prayers and the kind words are so encouraging. We are able to read once a day and it is so helpful and uplifting and I can't even begin to explain. It is a refueling and restoring time for me. It restores my faith in humanity and community, it has been totaly overwhelming!!
Today the doctors felt it was time to unhook the ECMO (lung machine) to see how Chris would react. Well lets just say that ECMO has left the room and it aint coming back!!!! Kudos to you prayer warriors and praise to GOD! So as long as Chris stays strong through the night he will be transported by helicopter back to Landstuhl medical facility tommorow at noon our time.(8 hours earlier than home) Connie Kenny and I will drive(4-5 hrs) to meet him.This will be Connie"s birthday present tommorow. I'm geussing her best ever? The plan will be that Landstuhl will be a short term stay, probably a few days unless he requires additional care and then on to Walter Reed hospital in Maryland. Yes that is in USA. We can't predict anything beyond that right now but we are VERY pleased with the results so far. So don't quit praying yet, Chris needs it and we need it. Thanks again for everthing, everyone of you. Till next time, KEITH"
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If you would like to leave your well wishes or visit the support page for Bogner, click here.