JACKMAN – Family members of Marine Cpl. Ryan Begin, 25, of Jackman left Maine over the past several days to be by his side at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland as the Maine native recovers from serious wounds suffered in combat in Iraq.

His uncle, Rene Guay of Jackman, asked Friday for letters and cards from Maine to keep his nephew’s flagging spirits up.

Begin was escorting other vehicles on Aug. 1 in western Baghdad, according to Guay, when a roadside bomb struck his Humvee. Begin was manning the turret gun and was wearing full body armor.

“Thank God he was wearing the armor,” said Guay, “or he probably would have been killed.” Begin suffered massive injuries to his right arm and has undergone a half-dozen surgeries, including one Friday, to remove shrapnel.

He was airlifted from Iraq to Germany and then to Maryland where he arrived Sunday, Aug. 8.

“He is still losing a lot of blood,” said Guay, who added it is unclear if Begin will keep his arm or not. Begin is in “excruciating pain,” said Guay. He was presented the Purple Heart last Tuesday at the hospital.

Guay said Begin’s parents, Michael and Anna Begin of Jackman, are already at their son’s bedside. Guay, his wife and another aunt and uncle left Friday to join them.

Guay described Begin as “a real good kid. He’s a Maine boy and loves the woods, hunting and fishing.”

Begin graduated from Forest Hills High School and attended Flagler College in Florida before enlisting in the Marines.

He was injured on his second tour of duty, which began July 1. Guay said Begin was in the initial assault of the war in Iraq and was part of a fierce battle at a bridge in Nasiriyah that claimed many American lives.

Cards and letters may be sent to Marine Corps Liaison, Cpl. Begin, Ryan, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Ward 5E, Room 21, Bethesda, MD 20889.