Posted on 02/22/2005 5:31:23 PM PST by SandRat
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2005 - Like many Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans, U.S. Army Capt. David Rozelle's story began in Iraq. Unlike many of those same veterans, his is set to continue there as well.
Cleared to return to the same battlefield where he was injured, Rozelle said he is the first amputee in recent military history to be returned to a dangerous command.
Rozelle arrived in Hit, Iraq, with the 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment from Fort Carson, Colo., in April 2003. Initially, his role in the town was as the "de facto sheriff," he said.
Aside from the fact that it was hot, he said, what stood out about the mission was that it was a success.
"From the time we hit the ground in Hit, from the first recon day to the point of my injury, it truly was a successful mission," Rozelle said. "We, within days, got the things back working. We made some good friends quite quickly."
He also was tapped to become one of the first servicemembers outside of special operations to train Iraqis to defend themselves. However, that never came to be.
On June 21, 2003, Rozelle was traveling the road that led to the police academy to participate in the program to train Iraqis when his Humvee hit an anti-tank mine buried by insurgents. Later he found out that the mine his Humvee hit was the last in a line of nine mines the insurgents had buried.
The Humvee became airborne and landed on Rozelle's right leg. Of the three soldiers in the vehicle, he was the only one injured.
"At first, I really didn't realize I was injured," he said. "The vehicle blew up, and I looked down and had what looked like all my parts and I had some good shrapnel and some bleeding, but I was alive and grateful."
The incident cost him his right foot, but earned him a Bronze Star with 'V' device and a Purple Heart Medal for his service in Iraq.
Following the usual medical route, Rozelle went through Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany before ending up at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. There, he bargained with the hospital commander, promising to meet amazing goals in his recovery, if he could make it to Colorado for the birth of his son. He arrived two days before the due date and ended up waiting for a week before his son was born.
"The baby was waiting on me to get home," Rozelle said.
The baby may have been waiting, but so were the amputee patients at Walter Reed - whether they knew it or not.
Back at Walter Reed, Rozelle was one of the first OIF amputee patients, and he had to find his own way through the healing process. It started when his boss made it clear to Rozelle and his rear detachment commander that his only mission was to get fit for active duty.
He took that mission very seriously, spending three to four hours per day training, likening the experience to basic training.
"The other four to five hours a day I spent staying in touch with other soldiers, calling back to Walter Reed, sending e-mails to other guys that are injured, creating awareness for people with disabilities from the very start. I wanted to help take care of soldiers, give them what I didn't have, which was knowledge of what's next," he said. "I found a leadership role for myself within the Army for amputees."
The training got him in shape and gave him a way to connect with and encourage other amputees to get back to their lives. He is snow skiing again and runs everything from Turkey Trots to marathons. He even organized a Walter Reed team for the Army 10-miler.
A group of doctors at the hospital had put a team together for the race when Rozelle approached them with the idea to let some of the patients take some of the slots. And so the "Missing Parts in Action Team: Some Assembly Required" was born.
"I beat most of the Navy and Air Force and kept up with the Marines," he said. "We just need to make people aware."
When Rozelle returns from Iraq, he has been asked to return to a position at Walter Reed before going on to Command and General Staff College. It will be doing one of the things he does best: Encouraging amputee patients to not give up and helping them realize that they can do the things they used to do.
"I am amazed … by the spirit of the American soldier," he said. "That's what I say to America: 'Celebrate the spirit of the American soldier.'
"These guys need to understand that, both the amputees and the able-bodied soldiers, … that the soldiers that are shown at Walter Reed are not ready to quit. They want to come back and join (their units) in combat, in a combat role. With modern science, that's a possibility."
Rozelle said the celebration of that spirit is readily evident.
"All you have to do is go over to Walter Reed sometime," he said, recounting stories of Walter Reed patients needing items and receiving an overwhelming response, and of a pillow company catching wind of plans to send pillows to troops in Iraq.
"They sent … 6,000 pillows for our soldiers," he said. "That is incredible."
Beyond these acts of support and generosity, Rozelle told of an individual who was supporting troops in a very big way.
"There's a guy over at Walter Reed who has now started an organization to continue it, but he, out of his own pocket, (is) giving every injured soldier that separated from service $30,000 to get his life started again," he said. "America supports our soldiers."
The captain, who claims to be an excellent hop-scotcher, also has found time during his recovery to write a book. "Back in Action: An American Soldier's Story of Courage, Faith, and Fortitude" is Rozelle's story of his injury, recovery and return to a command on the same battlefield.
He said the book, which he dedicated to his wife and son, came about at the suggestion of his friends and family. They are also the reason, he said, why he is going back to Iraq.
"There's a job to be done," he said.
Army Capt. David Rozelle, an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran and amputee, has written a book, "Back in Action" detailing his tour in Iraq, his injury and recovery, and being declared fit to return to an active role on the battlefield in Iraq. Rozelle, wrapping up a tour to promote his book, talks with Kristen Schremp of Regnery Publishing in Washington, the book's publisher. Photo by Samantha L. Quigley
A true warrior.
The Captain's a true soldier.
Canteen Ping.
Good God, are Americans made of stout stuff, or what? Gimme an Amen.
Wow. In the spirit of the Military: SAAAALUTE!
Gives me goose bumps. I pray that G*d and angels protect this brave man and his family.
What an inspiration. WHERE is MSM and CNN and is Barbara Walters going to interview him?
I saw this guy on Hardball last night and he gave Chrissy Matthews a run for his money--
At one point at the end of the interview, Chris mentioned that the WWII vets were nicknamed "The Greatest Generation" and that pehaps this group should be called "The Bravest Generation", because of the type of warfare that they are "having to endure".
Chris said that compared to the END of fighting in Germany, this was terrible, because of all of the terrorists and insurgents, etc. Well, Rozelle just looked Chris in the eye and told him, that he (Chris) didn't know what he was talking about---
He went on to tell Chris that the end of the war in Germany was the same as now, in that, even if "major fighting" had ended, there were still German soldiers sniping at Americans in there "insurgency"--
Chris then said, "But there weren't the deaths and injuries like ya'll have had in Iraq, though". Rozelle, said, that yes there were a lot of deaths and injuries, just like then..
He tried to go on and show how "alike" the two wars were, but Chrissy shut him up by saying something like, "Oh, well, your book is very good anyway"---
I was sssssssooo glad to see someone be able to shove Chris' Iraq war bashing right back in his smug, fat face!!!
The only suprise is that Miss Chrissy had the 'nads to have him on the show, but that may not have been his decision. Otherwise I don't think Matthews would have had the guts to ask him any "hardballs", lest he have them shoved down his pencil-neck.
It's a shame this guy gets a Bronze star and the f&*k Kerry parades around with a Siver star for a rice wound.
Remember the Navy Diver same sorta story.
Don't confuse Sissy Chrissy with the facts his mind is already made up.</venom for the Sissy
Yep and I look forward to one day when I have a Grandson taking him to the Movies to see the story of this warrior and being able to tell him what I remember about it when it happened and my reading about it on FreeRepublic.
At least Chris showed him more respect than he showed Michelle Malkin---
I think Chris was really taken aback by the fact that his "facts" were questioned---it was beeeeeutiful!!!
It was more fear than respect.
Got a feeling that Sissy Chissy had it figured out that if he went after the Warrior like he went after Michelle; that would be his last act on earth.
I heard him on Laura Ingraham. He said the local mayor found out who set the mines and where they were hiding. Rozelle's Marines went to get them. Rozelle: "Fortunately, they resisted"...
Love that wry warrior humor.
Chris Schneider © News
With the aid of a specially designed spring-action prosthesis, Capt. David Rozelle runs at Fort Carson. "I don't work out every day because I want to be ripped like I was when I was 18," he says. "I do it because it's what you need to do to make these prosthetic devices work." Within a month, Rozelle, 32, will become the first Army amputee certified to return to the same battlefield where he was wounded.
Capt. David Rozelle kisses his wife, Kim, as she holds their son, Forrest, 18 months, before the soldier returns to work at Fort Carson on Thursday. Rozelle is commander of the Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Troop for the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, which is preparing to redeploy to Iraq in March. "I have a lot of sympathy for him, but I'm never going to pity him," Kim Rozelle says of her husband's wounds. "I never have and I never will."
Rozelle shakes hands with Master Sgt. Dennis Stroh at a meeting at Fort Carson on Thursday for soldiers and their families concerning the regiment's redeployment to Iraq.
Rozelle inspects an M240 machine gun at Fort Carson. He lost his lower right leg in a June 2003 explosion during his first tour in Iraq, but is now set to redeploy with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
Ya gotta read this ping!!!
Doesn't look like someone I would pick a fight with. He looks like he could easily kick my ass with his remaining foot.
He reminds me of Donald Hamblen.
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