The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page 3

THE TIMES shreveporttimes.com WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2005 3A LocalStateNation UA, mechanics reach agreement Prayer: Coushatta soldier says angel, troops survived explosion just hours after United's mechanics ratified a five-year contract, giving the nation's No. 2 airline a pair of crucial labor victories that it needed to avoid an employee walkout and strengthen its bid to come out of bankruptcy. The mechanics agreed by a 59 percent to 41 percent vote to ratify a contract containing $96 million in annual concessions, including 3.9 percent pay cuts and reduced benefits. The Associated Press CHICAGO United Airlines and its machinists' union announced an agreement in principle on a contract Tuesday, narrowly heading off the need for a bankruptcy judge's ruling that could have triggered a strike. A formal contract agreement is to be presented in federal bankruptcy court June 17.

The agreement in principle came 4 Wholesale Pricing! All Carpet $1.00 Over Cost! "All Ceramic Tile 25 Over Cost! All Vinyl $1.00 Over Cost! All Hardwood 25t Over Cost! Builders Welcome! I of what they thought was trash in the road. It was knocked to the side only to be discovered later that it contained a bomb "that could have killed several of us." Smith knows the exact date of his next encounter April 23. He and his crew were driving down an access road in a neighborhood when a car bomb was detonated about four feet away. The fire from the explosion entered the cab. The truck moved another 33 yards before stopping.

"The tires were flat, the transmission was unresponsive, the windshields and windows were coated black. And then we evacuated the truck," Smith wrote. His face, ears and both hands were burned. Two other crew members were burned on their left hands. All were treated at the emergency hospital and released but had to go through "painful treatments" at the base of operations, Smith's e-mail says.

All were back on active status within 10 days. The next day brought the shocker. Smith accompanied his gunner, Sgt. Jose Dorsey, to the motor pool to look at the truck. "When we got there, we saw this hulk of a vehicle that used to be our truck.

It was heavily damaged. And we could not really believe that we had survived it I looked inside my area and told Sgt. Dorsey to come look. We saw that items we had in the cab were melted, other things covered in soot, but that angel was still hanging in its spot right where fire could have easily destroyed it. "It was unscathed by the blast, only a little dirty," the e-mail says.

The mechanic handed it to me because both of my hands were wrapped in bandages. I brought it back to my room. And when they finished rebuilding our truck (at our request) I put it right back where it had hung before. It remains there still." Smith plans to bring the angel with him and display it when he returns home, which should be in the fall. He also wants to take Birdwell up on an offer to have Birdwell and her sisters cook dinner for him.

Smith and Birdwell have become e-mail pals and find it amazing that their paths have crossed in such a way. They have mutual acquaintances but never had met. Birdwell formerly worked as executive assistant to the CEO of Christus-Coushatta Medical Center. Smith has been a Coushatta police officer since 1993. "Brenda has been a godsend.

When I feel tired from a mission or feel like I cannot go on when we lose comrades, I check my e-mail and find a note from her that lifts my spirits," Smith wrote. Continued from 1A She includes a letter with each angel thanking the soldier for his or her willingness to serve our country and explaining that her handmade creation provides no power. It's only a reminder that someone is praying for his or her safety. A few grateful soldiers have responded to Birdwell. But none offered such miraculous stories as Cpl.

Derrick Smith, 33, of Coushatta. The Hall Summit High graduate is a member of Shreveport-based l156th Armor Battalion. His unit is Blacksheep 2 156th Infantry, which is attached to l69th Infantry. He re-enlisted in the Army in April 2004, having first served from 1990 to 1999, and has been in the Middle East since October. Smith believes God has intervened at least twice, saving his and his crewniates' lives.

And he has Birdwell's angel as a reminder that others are praying for him. In an e-mail to The Times, Smith recalls his first almost-deadly encounter. It was near the end of February or first of March the same night he received the first angel. After his "battle buddy" read the prayer, the angel was placed in their truck as they started their nightly patrol. They spotted a bag Special to The Times Cpl.

Derrick Smith, 33, of Coushatta with the l156th Armor in Shreveport, is one soldier who contacted Brenda Birdwell to thank her for the crocheted angels. "I know that she prays and has other people praying because I can feel the power and protection of God when we go out I pray before every mission and say a thank-you prayer when we come in every day. It is just a touching and powerful presence having her in our lives." Sharing angels has given Birdwell hope. At the very least it forces her to get up every day, make as many angels as her hands will allow then navigate her motorized scooter outside to the mailbox at the end of her driveway. "When you are down, sick or discouraged and you know someone is praying for you, it makes all of the difference in the world," Birdwell said.

ifflmCEEriiB- 2161 mine Dr. Bossier City. IA (318) 747-3663 FAX (318) 747-3797 1 SEAFOOD STEAK HOUSE Not Valid with Dinner Gift Card No Substitutions Nitely Specials Dine-in only Happy Hour! Mon-Fri 4-7 pm 2 for 1 house Martini Need a travel companion? MONDAY 2 fori Fried Catfish $11.50 TUESDAY Lg. Crab Au gratin $13.25 Here's the perfect choice. A super-thin digital camera that can go with you everywhere, whether it's around the corner or around the world.

A great grad or dad gift! WEDNESDAY YMON-TU ES7 'S 11-3PM FREE BREAD Lg. Crabmeat Dinner 5JS3 $13.93 THURSDAY Lg. Shrimp Dinner 133 $13.99 FRIDAY 2.0 Megapixel 2x Digital Zoom UlUy Built-in Flash $99 Movie Mode 8MB of Internal Memory Re9- 199 1.5" Color TFT Display Supports SD and MMC cards Whole Fried Catfish $11.50 TO GO ORDERS WELCOME! 869-2316 $1.50 Bud or Miller Lite Draft Beer Saturday 11-2 2 for 1 Bloody Mary 2 Includes: Software, USB Cable, video Cable, 2 AAA batteries, hand strap and carrying case la SATURDAY ONLY Lg. Crawfish Dinner $155 $13.99 11-3 pm 2 fori Fried or Broiled Chicken SalaG $7.33 SUNDAY LUNCH 11-3 Featured Special and Free Bread Pudding HAMPER'S IORNER NflW In SUNDAY 5-9 pm Rib Eye 10 oz. Plain Baked Potato $15.99 International Toursi 3100 Highland Ave.

Shreveport, (318)865-4291 Open: Sun-Thurs Fri-Sat 8614710 The Travel Store Now serving Shangri-La Iced Tea fnwi fl A 1 It! 1 9m 5819 E. KINGS HIGHWAY SHREVEPORT 861-7079 Mam. Sa. a.m. 9 B.ni.

Sun. I a.m. 6 p.m. YOUR GLUTEN FREE HEADQUARTERS VitammsPlus located Inside Prog Emporium UiW HUH Uncle Lee's CORTISOlA Annies CortiSiim Now Niacin 60 caps Appetite Control Mac Cheese Green Tea 100 PKS $9)99 64 CAPS CAPS 1 I I Sr Reg. $4.56 $H) 99 Green Tea mi Diet Xenadrine Now Glucosamine lOOO ON Whey Protein Choc, Van.

Straw FX ten Hansen's Soda 99 Wwsanws tin rioc ft? $11 9)49 Reg ale Hi Sale 120 COUNT' Sale il 6vf 2 lbs Renew Life Now Now Atkins 1 AUMMV Cleanse Smart Lecithin Daily Vits 4 pk. Shakes Advantage Bars I .1 LB CieanseSMART 100 CAPS 4 59 Rca. $6.64 Ti QQ Reo. $7.54 $H99 7Vsaurqr7 $2.49 Value $9.99 Value Vale mmiiiniinrniiimiiiiiinr'iinii PRICE INFORMATION SELECTION WE OFFER ONLY THE HIGHEST QUALITY BRANDS WE INVITE YOU TO COMPARE OUR PRICE WITH STORES IN SHREVEPORT. YOU LL BE PLEASANTLY 5URPRI5ED.

TRY OUR NEW HEALTH NOTES COMPUTER REFERENCE BOOKS FREE OF CHARGE AVAILABLE TO THE HEALTH FOOD INDUSTRY.