Lila Weber of Lake Leelanau watches the nightly news and prays that her grandson Ben Weber stays safe while serving his country in Iraq.

“He was a sweet boy, now he’s a sweet young man,” said Lila, who is very close to her grandson. Army Spec. Weber grew up on O’Brien Road, just south of Lake Leelanau, and attended Leelanau Community Christian School, later graduating from Kingsley High School. “He always wanted to be in the service … from the time he was a little boy.”

Leelanau County was a world away on Feb. 17 for Weber, whose friend (and shirttail relative) Justin Paton of Alanson, died when their platoon came under fire. Two days later, Feb. 19, Weber was wounded in a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED) attack on an Iraqi police outpost in Tarmiyah. His platoon was guarding the facility.

Weber suffered leg wounds from shrapnel and wall fragments, and a concussion, when the truck-bomb exploded just outside the part of the building he was in. With two killed and 17 wounded, the platoon fought to hold the outpost until reinforcements arrived.

“He’s in an infantry unit. It’s their job to make their presence known and aid the Iraqi Army when needed,” said his mother Jenni Oakley of Kingsley. “Ben was the least wounded and was closest to the IED when it went off.”

Oakley last heard from her son on Saturday, when he returned to active duty. He called from the field by using a satellite phone that belonged to one of his fellow soldiers.

“He called to tell me he was out again on patrol and had to hang up quickly,” said his mother, who heard gunfire and explosions in the background. “They had come under fire.”

The soldier, who turns 21 in May, called back and tried to downplay what had just transpired.

“Ben tries to buffer us from what’s going on. He told me he was sorry I had to hear that,” Oakley said, adding that he tries to call whenever there’s a break in the action. “I guess there is no break.”

While recuperating at an hospital at Balad Air Base, Weber met his future brother-in-law, Staff Sgt. Merritt Allinger of the Michigan Air National Guard’s 127 AMX Squadron from Selfridge Air Based in Mount Clemens. He served as crew chief of one of the F-16 jets that was launched to defend Weber’s platoon in Tarmiyah the morning he was injured.

Allinger is engaged to Weber’s sister, Heidi. The couple is scheduled to be married Aug. 4.

Weber goes on patrol for a period of 10 days to two weeks, returns to camp for a few days and then returns to the field. When not working, he tries to catch up on letters and email. The following is a partial excerpt from an email sent to Ben’s father, David, after the IED attack:

“I know this whole thing has been hard on everyone back home, but we’re here because of you all back home,” wrote the soldier, who is the fourth generation in his family to serve in the Army. His father was in the Army from 1977 through 1984, and his grandfather, Bill and great-grandfather also served.

“It’s my time in history and I embrace it … I need you all to be strong and know that is my love that flows through, doing what I do. I will sacrifice all I have for what I love. My resolve has been doubled, regardless of politics.”

Family members pray for his safety and that of his fellow soldiers.

“He’s asked for prayers. He said they’re very badly needed,” Lila Weber said.

A second grandson, Jeff Holman, a 1990 Glen Lake graduate, is also serving in Iraq. His second child was born last November in Alaska while he was deployed in Iraq.

“They believe they’re making the world a better place,” grandma Weber said.

The Weber family had hoped to see Ben this summer when his brother and sister are scheduled to be married. But that may not be possible. They last saw Ben before he was deployed to Iraq in November.

“We’re hoping to see him. His brother’s wedding date is May 27. His sister’s is Aug. 4,” David Weber said. “But the more things heat up over there, the Army is telling him it doesn’t look good (for leave).”