KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffWest Frankfort soldier severely wounded on battlefield

West Frankfort soldier severely wounded on battlefield

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WEST FRANKFORT, IL (KFVS) -

The family of Pvt Charles Ligon are praying for his recovery and safe travel home.

Pvt Ligon was severely wounded while on patrol in Afghanistan on Sunday morning. One other soldier with Pvt Ligon was killed and four others injured when an IED exploded near their vehicle.

On Monday evening Pvt Ligon's family, friends and former classmates from West Frankfort Community High School gathered for a prayer and candlelight vigil. The service was held at St. John the Baptist church in West Frankfort.

Father Trevor Moore read a few passages from the Bible, a Confederate Soldier's prayer he wrote after being wounded on the battlefield.

Pvt Ligon turned 20 years old on the same day he arrived in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army's Alpha Company, 2nd Platoon Infantry Company. That was on April 11th of this year.

The explosion on Sunday morning was Pvt Ligon's second encounter with an IED while on patrol.

His family says they are thankful for all the community support and prayers for Pvt Ligon's recovery and safe return home.

"Prayers are very important, they are very powerful. I believe in prayer,"said Susan Willmore step-grandmother to Pvt Ligon. "And I believe that 'Chaz' will be back home with us. We are behind him. We love him very much. And by this candle light service I just have a good feeling about him coming home."

Late Monday afternoon the family received word that Pvt Ligon was being flown to Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany for more surgeries. And then to begin his recovery before being flown back to the United States.

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