Trouble-beset Iraq war vet finally gets reason to smile

By Brian Falla/ Daily News Transcript
Friday, September 2, 2005

Wounded in Iraq twice and told his father has cancer, Marine Lance Cpl. Michael Levinson has been struggling to keep his family together.

Now he can cut loose.

Yesterday, fortune smiled upon Levinson, 21, of Norwood, who won a free vacation for four to Riviera Maya, Mexico, from a contest he didn't even know he entered.

His girlfriend, Laurie Thomas, from Uxbridge, submitted Levinson's name in a Celebration Vacation Contest by Brigham's Ice Cream and iParty.

The contest asked New Englanders to submit their stories on why they deserve a vacation.

Thomas decided to send in Levinson's tale.

``He would give his life for his family and he is so worried and unbelievably stressed about his father's health, and keeping a roof over his family's head,'' said Thomas. ``He hasn't had any time to enjoy himself.''

Levinson's story made the judge's work easy.

``As soon as they read the story, that was it, he won,'' said contest spokeswoman Susan Butler, who said judges considered more than 1,000 entries

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