HALIFAX COUNTY, N.C. — When Matthew Delk is not off serving his country, he serves his county. Even though the Halifax County manager was recently injured in a battle thousands of miles away, he is still keeping in touch with folks back home.

When Liz Delk heard about Tuesday's roadside bombing of American soldiers' convoy near Mosul in Iraq and later received a telephone call, she said her greatest fear was that bad news was on the way. Instead, her husband, Matthew, called her from a hospital in Iraq to say he was OK.

Delk's injuries were not considered serious enough to be sent home. But he is being transferred to a military hospital in Germany, and Liz is making arrangements to fly to his bedside.

"I feel pretty fortunate," Liz said. "It definitely takes a lot of stress off of me, and it helps my family."

In a later phone call, Matthew Delk expressed sorrow over the death of one of two buddies he pulled from the flames.

Delk has been using high-tech tools to keep in touch with family and county staff. His numerous e-mails to county employees and telephone calls home to Liz help them deal with the uncertainties of war.

"All I can say -- Matthew, all the soldiers and all the families that are here -- keep them in your prayers and thoughts because we need support, too," Liz said. "Soldiers have things going on there and families have a lot of stuff here, too."

Liz plans to take a plane trip to Germany Sunday to see her husband. Matthew Delk has been Halifax County manager since 2001.