Amputee Combat Veterans Return to Iraq

Multi-National Force - Iraq ^ | Sgt. Kathleen Briere, USA

[SandRat]

Staff Sgt. Bradley K. Gruetzner explains his prosthetic arm to servicemembers at Al-Faw Palace here on Camp Victory, June 21. Photo by Sgt. Kathleen Briere, Multi-National Corps – Iraq.

BAGHDAD — Six amputee combat veterans put their uniforms back on and returned to Iraq recently for the first time since sustaining their injuries in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the rotunda of the Al Faw Palace here on Camp Victory, they introduced themselves to hundreds of their brothers and sisters in arms in support of yet another operation, Operation Proper Exit.

Operation Proper Exit is a pilot program being introduced by the Disabled American Veterans, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing lives of disabled veterans.

The program is run by the Troops First Foundation, which is supported by the United Service Organization. It allows troops who sustained injuries in combat to return to the camps or bases at which they were housed.

"This was their idea. They wanted to come back," said Staff Sgt. Alejandro Perez, MNF-I. Working directly with and for MNF-I Command Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Wilson, Perez planned and organized the week-long visit.

Brig. Gen. Heidi V. Brown, deputy commanding general, Multi-National Corps – Iraq, introduced herself and presented a coin to each returning servicemember. She said she was glad they came back and that she hopes their visit here "closes the loop."

The troops and their entourage are scheduled to visit seven locations during their visit this week.

[SandRat]

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[freekitty]

What brave people.

[Nat Turner]

This inspiring article reminds of the great courage of our Civil War soldiers.

Men who suffered grievous wounds under conditions of almost no medical care but returned to serve with their comrades after they recovered...Truly Great

[ETL]

[colorado tanker]

Every few months I see another story about an amputee getting back to duty or doing some amazing physical feat. These soldiers are awesome.

This speaks volumes about morale in the Army.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Brought to you from the land of the free and the HOME OF THE BRAVE.

A mighty OORAH to all!

[jwparkerjr]

I had the pleasure and privilege today of photographing the promotion ceremony of another of these brave men who have been seriously wounded and choose to continue the fight in Iraq! This man is being promoted to first sergeant despite the loss of his leg when his vehicle was struck by an RPG two years ago. He had the choice of keeping his badly injured left leg or having it amputated and fitted with a prosthetic limb. The only way he could remain in the service, and on active duty, in order to return to his combat status was to go with the below the knee amputation and a prosthetic lower leg. And that's exactly the choice he made!

Here is a picture of this man as his wife completes the promotion and his children look on. You can tell by the expressions of everyone in the picture that moral is high and there are no fighting forces like those of the US anywhere in the world!



God does, indeed, bless America!

[ASOC]

They are not “disabled” They are differently abled vets!

Thanks for posting SR!

[colorado tanker]

Wow. Thanks for that post.

[jwparkerjr]

You're welcome! It was pure serendipity that I had covered that ceremony the same day this article was posted.

Here's the link to all the photos from the ceremony:

US SOCOM Promotion Ceremony - MacDill AFB

[jwparkerjr]

Our church is in South Tampa and has catered to military families from MacDill for 75 years. I do all sorts of photography for the church's web site and often have the opportunity to cover events at MacDill. One of my favorite gigs of all! Vacation Bible School is fun and all that, but there's nothing quite like seeing a hundred or more military people of all ranks, from over a dozen countries (MacDill is hq for CENTCOM), gathered for a ceremony or event!

FWIW, here's another shot from yesterday.



Those are name of the fallen on the wall of Special Operations Memorial. The young man's dad is also a combat wounded soldier working to return to duty!

[colorado tanker]

Wow, that’s quite a picture. I wonder if that kid or his dad knows the name he’s looking at???

[jwparkerjr]

I got the feeling the kid didn’t know any of the names. But he was impressed anyway. He spent quite a while looking at, and feeling, the names.