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My brother has gone missing
Update
I want to let everyone know that my brother returned home overnight last night and that he's home safe today. He had checked himself into an area hotel for the last several days. Thank you to everyone for all of your kind words and prayers. They were greatly appreciated. They will continue to be appreciated as my brother continues to go through his ups and downs over the coming years. We will all hope and pray for the best!
Sincerely,
James P Berka
Saint Paul, MN
I am posting here in case it helps at all... I am at a loss.
My name is James P Berka. My email address is jpberka@earthlink.net. I live in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
My brother's name is Joel L Berka. He is a 2 tour Army veteran of the war in Iraq with both the 4th ID and the 1st Cav. He has been most recently living in Moville, Iowa with my parents. He has been dealing with PTSD and alcohol since coming home along with some physical injuries that have landed him with permanent disability benefits.
After an argument with my parents on Thursday, April 18th, he was supposed to go to an appointment at a VA clinic in Sioux City, Iowa. That was the last my parents saw of him. He is not answering his cell phone. Joel is 31 years old. He is about 5'10", weighs about 220, has light brown hair. He could have a full beard at this point. Frankly, if he's been drinking, he could look a bit run down. He drives a mid 90s black Chevy S-10 with sun damage from being stored outdoors in Texas while he was in Iraq. It has Iowa plates along with several veterans stickers in the windows. It is possible he has driven down to the Fort Hood area in Texas to find friends. We just want to know that he is alive and well. We are not asking for him to be forcibly detained, but if someone did happen across him, asking him to call home would be very much appreciated... tell him that he can call his brother if he wishes. I would deeply love to know he is OK. As I'm sure you all understand, this is breaking our collective hearts at this point.
If you have any questions or if someone happened to see him or believes they did, please feel free to email me and I will be glad to help. He has been reported missing with the Sheriffs Department in Woodbury County, Iowa.
Thank you very much!
Sincerely,
James P Berka
Saint Paul, MN