Posted on 09/10/2004 7:08:49 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
The story of Sgt. Chuck Bartles' injury in Iraq begins like many others.
The 26-year-old Army reservist was riding down a highway in a Humvee when a roadside bomb rocked his vehicle, spraying shrapnel everywhere.
One soldier died. Two were injured.
Bartles lost a limb. His right arm was shattered and had to be removed above the elbow.
What happened next, however, has not happened in decades, according to the commander of Bartles' unit, the Belton, Mo.-based 418th Civil Affairs Battalion.
Bartles was allowed to stay in his job and re-enlist in the Army. Civil affairs soldiers are helping rebuild infrastructure and governments in Iraq.
On Thursday, Bartles was presented with a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq and re-enlisted during a ceremony at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum in downtown Fayetteville.
Lt. Col. James Suriano, the commander of the 418th, said an official from Walter Reed Army Medical Center told him that it was the first time someone in Bartles' situation has been allowed to re-enlist, at least since Vietnam.
"Sergeant Bartles is the first (noncommissioned officer) in the modern Army that's been able to re-enlist," Suriano said.
"The reason is a testament to his soldierly qualities and stick-to-it-ness."
Amputees are usually medically discharged from the Army with no questions asked, Suriano said.
Instead of waiting to get discharged, Bartles twice appealed to a medical board at Walter Reed.
Satisfied that he could perform his duties, they agreed to let him stay in.
Bartles has been in the military reserve for eight years. He began in the Marines but decided to switch to the Army three years ago so he could pursue language studies.
He started a Russian language course at Fort Bragg in June - eight months after his injury and about two years after he joined the Army Reserves.
His injury has not cut his enthusiam for the service.
"I'm not bitter at all," he said. "I've been in the military my whole adult life, and I really enjoy it."
Studies
Bartles is taking Russian and Eastern European studies at the University of Kansas at Lawrence and is scheduled to graduate in December. The South Dakota native plans to attend law school next.
He knows another deployment is likely.
"I don't know how soon it will come, maybe next year," he said. "I'll have time to graduate in December but probably not enough time to finish law school."
Bartles is functional without his arm. The right-hander has had to learn to do everything with his left hand, and he sometimes must set down what he is carrying to put on his black beret or open his car door.
He had to hoist his right arm into position with his left as Suriano administered the oath during his re-enlistment ceremony.
Suriano said Bartles' positive attitude keeps him going.
The commander visited Bartles in his hospital bed in Iraq the day after his amputation.
"He was already talking about learning how to shoot left-handed because he didn't want to miss the deer season," Suriano said.
A fine young soldier.
What a brave tough soldier...
If I remember the story correctly ....
There was a Marine during Vietnam ( Force Recon NCO) who got his leg blown off by a mine or booby trap..
He came back to the states and was allowed to stay in the Corps...he petioned to go back into Force Recon....but was told he would have to pass all the PT tests...I believe he maxed the PT tests..
and was allowed to back to Vietnam and did another tour in Force Recon
This guy was running ops into Loas humping 90 lb packs plus his weapon and doing this on his artifical leg..
These two guys are more than amazing..
imo
If he was a Marine, I'd say OOOH-RAH!.
This is the kind of guy that made America GREAT!
Without question, such amazing men.
I had an Army captain as an instructor at Fort Benning when I was there going through the Basic Course. He was a partial amputee and blinded in one eye from wounds received in Vietnam. He was one of our best and most respected cadre.
You and I had the same thought. This fine young man has a bronze star for a missing arm and JFK has one for a boboo. I'm really beginning to despise him. (I'm pacing myself at "loathing" to keep my blood pressure at acceptable levels until November).
Neither one of you are being fair to Mr. Kerry. He served with distinction in Vietnam for all FOUR MONTHS! He deserved that silver star. It was a really big scratch! If it had become infected, it could've been amputated. So, show the man no respect. Will ya? Hmmm?
On a serious note, thanks for the ping, chickett. I appreciate it. Great story!
BTTT
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