AUBURN – When Nanette Ardry got the news that her husband, Craig, had been wounded in an attack in Iraq, she fell to pieces.

Luckily, she says, the call came while she was at work at Austin Associates, where she has been a tax attorney for four years.

“Right away, eight or 10 of the ladies I work with were there to support me with hugs, and even taking the phone from me to get information,” said Ardry.

It was just the beginning. Since that call in late April, Ardry’s co-workers have sent her gift baskets, items for her 2-year-old son, Camden, and many cards, letters and phone calls.

Her bosses have allowed her the flexibility to take as much time as she needed to be with her husband while he recuperated in a Texas hospital and to work from home until she felt she could return to the office full time.

“There is no better place to work,” said Ardry. “The people here are the most incredibly supportive people.”

Steve Austin, president of the Auburn accounting firm, thinks it’s just the way you should treat people – nothing exceptional.

But the Maine National Guard begs to differ. A division within the Guard – Employee Support of the Guard and Reserve – honored Austin and his company Thursday for outstanding support of an employee affected by the war in Iraq.

“From the company’s point of view, we just offered her financial and other support, but nothing special, to be honest,” said Austin. The company continued her benefits and full salary throughout the crisis. “We want to be good to Nanette, who’s been a great employee.”

Ardry’s husband, Sgt. Craig Ardry, was seriously injured in an attack in Mosul that killed fellow Mainer Spc. Christopher Gelineau on April 20. Ardry suffered severe burns and leg and torso injuries in the attack, in which a homemade explosive ripped through a convoy of the 133rd Engineer Battalion.

Ardry was in the Humvee next to Gelineau’s. His injuries were so life-threatening he had to be resuscitated twice. He was eventually shipped out to Texas, to a special burn hospital where he has been recuperating. He recently returned to the couple’s home in Pittsfield, where he will continue treatments before heading back to Texas at the end of the month.

“He’s improving all the time, but he still has a long way to go,” said Ardry.

Austin received the “Above and Beyond” award from the Guard, for “outstanding service and continuing support” of the nation’s defense. Sgt. Maj. Gregory Small said the national award is only the second handed out this year in Maine.

“It really recognizes the effort on behalf of the employer,” said Small.

Ardry said she was pleased her workplace was selected for the honor.

“They deserve it,” she said. “They are wonderful people and a wonderful company to work for.”