A Story of True Heroism
To not violate operational security I will not mention certain
facts but last week when many of you back in the States were going
about your normal lives Soldiers from the 3rd
Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division (Light
Infantry) were conducting a combat convoy when the lead HMMWV (Humvee
in civilian lingo) was struck by an IED (Improvised Explosive
Device) buried in the road. The disabled vehicle was then hit
with 3 RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades). The first RPG struck
the vehicle in the front engine well, the second hitting the
windshield shattering the bulletproof glass into the faces of the
driver and front passenger. They were wearing their protective
goggles so their eyes were protected however; the passenger lost his
nose while both suffered shrapnel to the face. By now most of
the Soldiers were dismounting to return fire with the exception of
the turret gunner who was engaging the ambushing Taliban forces.
The third RPG entered the side of the vehicle hitting the standing
turret gunner and lodging itself in his right pelvis. As he
collapsed into the vehicle, the medic who was already in a full
sprint under fire himself continued toward the vehicle in order to
provide immediate aid. Upon reaching the wounded Soldier he
noticed that the round had not exploded. He quickly stopped
the bleeding but realizing that the Soldier was a litter urgent
patient that would die unless flown out by helicopter would not be
allowed unto the MEDEVAC due to the unexploded round embedded in his
side. So he decided to bandage the entire wound covering it
completely from sight. Giving the Soldier an IV and never
leaving his side he continued to talk to him as the fierce battle
continued right outside. Apache Gun Ships were on station
within minutes to provide over watch and launch hell fire missiles
at the enemy. Soon after that, A-10s were flying over head
dropping their ordinance. The Soldiers from the 3rd
BCT continued to defend their hasty positions until the surviving
enemy withdrew from their attack.
Shortly there after the helicopter landed and the MEDEVAC took
off to the field hospital where they brought the wounded Soldier,
now in a coma, to be treated. Upon cutting off the bandages
the doctor quickly saw the RPG round stuck in the dying Soldier’s
side, he then yelled for everyone to get out of the emergency room
and demanded his assistant call for an EOD specialist and an X-Ray
technician to come quickly. Within minutes both had arrived;
one to determine if in fact it was still a live round, and the other
to X-Ray the injury and determine the extent of the internal damage.
The EOD specialist quickly seeing that the round was still armed
notified the doctor who upon hearing that the X-Ray technician had
finished his job, looked at the X-Ray and decided the Soldier’s life
was worth saving. He quickly ordered the two out and asked for
one volunteer to assist him. After the successful surgery the
Soldier came out of his coma and first question out of his mouth was
"am I going to walk again?" The doctor assured him that with
more surgery and physical therapy he would! The next day he
was MEDAVAC’d to Germany to the US Medical Center while his young
wife was notified and was preparing to fly from Fort Drum to meet
him.
His name is Private First Class Moss, just another Soldier.
So, pick which one to play the part of the true hero: the
medic, the doctor, the pilots, the brave Soldiers who never gave up
an inch of terrain, or PFC Moss?
You are all correct!
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be
discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." -
Joshua 1:9
