By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com
The Philadelphia DEA is drumming up some cash to help the family of agent Joe Piersante, a member of the DEA Foreign-deployed Advisory Support Team (FAST) who was seriously wounded in Afghanistan while on a mission last Fall.
The Philly DEA is selling t-shirts and plans a fundraising event –Beef and Beer — in April.
The DEA said that Piersante was operating in Helmand Province Afghanistan on a counter-narcotics mission along with a combined task force of Afghan National Units along with Australian Special Operations Forces when he encountered Taliban insurgents.
Piersante was struck in the head with a 7.62 mm round, which penetrated his ballistic helmet, passed through both frontal lobes of his brain and caused severe trauma to both optical nerves.
The DEA says he has progressed and is home, but will need to undergo months of intensive rehabilitation.
His wife, an intensive care nurse, has taken a leave of absence from her job to help Piersante, the DEA said.
It said 100 percent of the profits from the fundraising will to directly to the Joe Piersante Warrior Fund.
Here’s how to get the t-shirt: Pre-Order Sale. Contact Randy Updegraff @ JPWarriorFund@comcast.net or a POC in your area to consolidate orders. Request payment in advance; checks made out to Randy Updegraff in order to better able to facilitate production of the shirts and gauge demand. Denote quantity and size in orders: (2XL, XL, L, M.) Remit Payment to DEA Philadelphia, 600 Arch Street, Suite 10224, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Attn: Randy Updegraff (Group 2).
People are urged to include a mailing address and e-mail address with each order. Orders will be placed on March 1.
