Iowa Post 73’s fundraiser brings in more than $18,000, so far, for U.S. Army Master Sgt. Josh Steinback, who suffered a traumatic brain injury during the March 1 attack that killed six U.S. servicemembers.
When one of their own was severely injured by an Iranian air strike at an operations center in Kuwait last March, American Legion Post 73 in Tama, Iowa, immediately moved to support the soldier and his family. The post donated the money raised from its six fish fries in 2025 to assist the family with expenses.
Four months later, that support continues. A July 18 fundraiser conducted by Post 73’s American Legion Family already has raised around $20,000, which again will go to the family.
U.S. Army Master Sgt. Josh Steinback, a member of Post 73, was injured in the attack on the operations center that took the lives of six U.S. servicemembers from the 103rd Sustainment Command. Steinback, the father of two, was airlifted to Germany initially, where his wife Angie met him. He’s since been transferred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland, where he continues to receive care.
Steinback was in a coma after the attack and suffered a traumatic brain injury. The post has made assisting him, his wife Angela and their children a priority.
“He still has a long road ahead of him,” Post 73 Commander Jeff Large said. “We have told the family that if they need anything to reach back out to us. We will always be there to support them until he is back home. And then we will continue to support them.”
Steinback is allowed to come back to Iowa one weekend a month. Knowing he would be home, the post planned the fundraiser for July 18. The event kicked off with a 37-rider poker run in the morning, and also included pool and cornhole tournaments, music, other activities, raffles, a live auction and food.
“It went very well,” Large said. “We had a great turnout. And money still is coming in. But from the numbers I’ve seen, we’re looking at around $18,000 to more than $20,000 so far.”
Large said the highlight was having Steinback and his wife attend the event. “He didn’t think he was going to be able to stay all day. But he kind of paced himself, and he stayed for the whole thing,” he said. “The people who came, they loved visiting with him. People really loved interacting with him, getting to talk with him. And I think that a lot of people, when they got there, may not have stayed all day. But because they were able to interact with him and visit with him, it made a big difference in wanting to stay longer.”
The support from Post 73 hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Steinbacks.
“They love that The American Legion, as a family, stepped up to support their family,” Large said. “And they were really overwhelmed how the community stepped up and showed their support. And there were people there from other (Legion) posts who came from more than two hours away who went up and visited with (Josh). He just loved that support.”
- Troops