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Iraq

Fellow deputies get good news on Marine

The wife of a sheriff's deputy serving in Iraq as a reservist says his condition appears to be improving after an attack.

By COLLEEN JENKINS
Published July 9, 2005

Pasco sheriff's officials still don't know much about what happened to one of their own during an attack in Iraq earlier this week.

But the news they received Friday from Deputy Josh Cooley's wife was optimistic: The Marine reservist's condition appears to be improving.

"The whole agency's prayers are paying off, I guess," said Deputy Ken Petrillo, a close friend.

Deputy Christina Cooley, a courthouse bailiff in New Port Richey, arrived Friday in Germany, where her husband is being treated, apparently for a head injury from shrapnel. Josh Cooley's mother also made the trip overseas.

Christina Cooley called home to report that Josh Cooley, 28, apparently had been part of a detail traveling through Iraq in an amphibious assault vehicle that came under attack, according to the Sheriff's Office. Other Marines also were injured.

The Marine Corps has not confirmed that information or released details regarding the extent of Cooley's injuries. When a Marine Corps officer called looking for Christina Cooley on Wednesday, the directive was to get her to Germany immediately.

But Friday, things seemed to be looking up, a Sheriff's Office news release said. It said that Cooley is in a medically induced coma to allow him to heal faster.

If his condition continues to improve, Cooley could be flown back to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., as early as Sunday, according to the Sheriff's Office.

A deputy since 1998, Cooley took a leave of absence from the agency in early 2004 to train to be in the Marine Corps Reserve and follow in the footsteps of his brothers and father.

Before shipping out about six months ago, he married Christina and became a father figure to her 3-year-old daughter. Christina Cooley's parents are now watching the child, Petrillo said.

"Our main concern right now is just getting Josh home so we can take care of him," Petrillo said.

Staff writers Emily Vasquez and Steve Thompson contributed to this report.

[Last modified July 9, 2005, 01:02:12]