SgtJim
12-23-2010, 07:39 AM
:USA: :thumbsup:
Story by Staff Sgt. Tanya Thomas
4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs
from dvidshub
CAMP RAMADI, Iraq – Eight service members returned to Iraq—a place where they nearly lost their lives—and were welcomed back, Dec. 10,
by soldiers with 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, upon their visit to Al Anbar, Iraq.
“Operation Proper Exit” allows wounded warriors to revisit the country
they were once medically evacuated from, to find closure to a chapter of their lives that has since remained open.
9430
Wounded warriors and Soldiers with 4th Advise and Assist Brigade,
3rd Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, pose for a photo,
Dec. 10, at Camp Ramadi, Iraq.
“In making this journey I hope each of you gain a perspective from this chapter of your life and
these experiences will assist you in writing the next,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Altman, command sergeant
major of 4th AAB, 3rd Inf. Div., USD-C, as he spoke to the wounded heroes at Camp Ramadi, Iraq.
The warriors—six soldiers, a Marine, and one airman—returned to Iraq, Dec. 6, and spent a week
travelling throughout the country they involuntarily left.
9431
Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Goodwater (right), command sergeant major with 1st Battalion,
76th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, United States Division – Center,
escorts Marine Cpl. Michael Campbell (left) and Army Sgt. 1st Class Joe James (center), to a helicopter,
Dec. 10, where they departed Al Anbar, Iraq, on their own accord.
Marine Cpl. Michael Campbell, a Pineville, La., native, deployed in March 2003 to Fallujah,
Iraq, with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. Two months later, he was severely wounded
when an improvised explosive device detonated and left him with Traumatic Brain Injury,
chronic seizures, loss of short-term memory, loss of speech for two years, but most importantly,
the loss of his fellow comrades who were killed in the blast.
“I wanted to come back here, where I was injured, to say goodbye to my friends,” he said.
He said this visit back to the province he left more than seven years ago would help with his healing
process and allow him to mentally move forward from the tragedies of war.
A little more than a year after Campbell was injured, Spc. Derek Bradshaw, a Yucca Valley, Calif. native,
deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq, with the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team,
25th Infantry Division. While out on patrol, his vehicle rolled off a 20-foot cliff, killing the driver,
Spc. Daniel McConnell and leaving Bradshaw and the other passengers disabled.
9432
Wounded warriors received certificates of appreciation, a small token
of gratitude for their service and sacrifice, at a ceremony hosted by
4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, United States
Division – Center, in their honor, Dec. 10, at Camp Ramadi, Iraq.
“They didn’t think I was going to make it,” Bradshaw said, recalling the Nov. 16, 2004
incident that left him with TBI, multiple face fractures, a broken arm and nerve damage.
Bradshaw heard about Operation Proper Exit through his battle buddy, Spc. Carlos Ortiz,
1st Batt., 27th Inf. Regt., 2nd BCT, 25th Inf. Div., and a Seaside Heights, N.J., native,
who also almost plummeted to his death in the same roll-over accident.
“Ortiz told me about this opportunity to come back and without hesitation I jumped onboard
” Bradshaw said. “It gives Soldiers like me a chance to return, talk to the other Soldiers
who are currently deployed, and gives us a chance to leave—this time, on our own two feet.”
Bradshaw, Ortiz, Campbell and the other wounded warriors, met with 4th AAB, 3rd Inf. Div.,
Soldiers and discussed the days that nearly claimed their lives.
9433
Spc. Derek Bradshaw (right), deployed to Kirkuk with the 1st Battalion,
27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division,
and a Yucca Valley, Calif., native shows Spc. Todd Davis (center), with Brigade
Special Troops Battalion, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division,
United States Division – Center, some of his injuries he sustained Nov. 16, 2004,
when his Humvee plummeted off a 20-foot cliff.
“This is allowing us to get closure a lot of us need,” Bradshaw said. “Most of this
closure comes from talking one-on-one with the soldiers—people we can relate to—and it really helps.”
The wounded warriors agreed a little small talk with their brothers and sisters-in-arms helped them cope,
and said it was good to see their personal sacrifices helped to make a difference for the people of America and Iraq.
“It’s awesome to see how much the Iraqi forces have grown in confidence and in numbers,
” Bradshaw said. “It’s phenomenal to be able to come back and see this first-hand.”
Sgt. 1st Class Joe James, a Bethpage, Tenn., native, and returning wounded warrior agrees.
“It’s only been a few years, but I feel like Iraq is a completely different place,” he said
of the improvements he has seen since he last left.
James, who has deployed to combat four times, was wounded in 2008 when an IED hit his Humvee,
killing one and wounding him and two others. He said it was nice to see the combat roles have finally shifted to advise and assist.
“Iraq today is nothing like it was in 2005 and 2006, and that’s because of you,
” Altman told James and the rest of the wounded warriors. “Our Soldiers are safer,
more secure and are able to advise and assist the Iraqis, due to your hard work and sacrifice.”
9434
Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Goodwater (left), command sergeant
major with 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade,
United States Division - Center, thanks Spc. Derek Bradshaw (right), who was wounded,
Nov. 16, 2004 when his humvee fell off a 20-foot cliff. Bradshaw returned to Iraq, Dec. 10,
to gain a sense of closure after his near-death incident through Operation Proper Exit.
Altman and Command Sgt. Maj. William Johnson, command sergeant major with 1st Armored Division,
United States Division – Center, handed each of the warriors a certificate of appreciation
as a small token of their gratitude toward the heroes who have helped pave the way for other
service members and the Government of Iraq, today.
“Whether you realize it or not, each of you are truly an inspiration,
” Altman said to the wounded warriors. “To return to a place where you nearly lost your
lives takes courage and gives me direct insight into the type of servicemen you were and
veterans you are as you are still committed to serving our country.”
9435
Sgt. Maj. Darren Woodland, operations sergeant major
with 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division,
United States Division – Center, thanks Cpl. Michael Campbell, Dec. 10,
for his sacrifice. Campbell was wounded by and improvised explosive
device in 2003 and returned to Iraq, as part of Operation Proper Exit.
Story by Staff Sgt. Tanya Thomas
4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs
from dvidshub
CAMP RAMADI, Iraq – Eight service members returned to Iraq—a place where they nearly lost their lives—and were welcomed back, Dec. 10,
by soldiers with 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, upon their visit to Al Anbar, Iraq.
“Operation Proper Exit” allows wounded warriors to revisit the country
they were once medically evacuated from, to find closure to a chapter of their lives that has since remained open.
9430
Wounded warriors and Soldiers with 4th Advise and Assist Brigade,
3rd Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, pose for a photo,
Dec. 10, at Camp Ramadi, Iraq.
“In making this journey I hope each of you gain a perspective from this chapter of your life and
these experiences will assist you in writing the next,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Altman, command sergeant
major of 4th AAB, 3rd Inf. Div., USD-C, as he spoke to the wounded heroes at Camp Ramadi, Iraq.
The warriors—six soldiers, a Marine, and one airman—returned to Iraq, Dec. 6, and spent a week
travelling throughout the country they involuntarily left.
9431
Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Goodwater (right), command sergeant major with 1st Battalion,
76th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, United States Division – Center,
escorts Marine Cpl. Michael Campbell (left) and Army Sgt. 1st Class Joe James (center), to a helicopter,
Dec. 10, where they departed Al Anbar, Iraq, on their own accord.
Marine Cpl. Michael Campbell, a Pineville, La., native, deployed in March 2003 to Fallujah,
Iraq, with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. Two months later, he was severely wounded
when an improvised explosive device detonated and left him with Traumatic Brain Injury,
chronic seizures, loss of short-term memory, loss of speech for two years, but most importantly,
the loss of his fellow comrades who were killed in the blast.
“I wanted to come back here, where I was injured, to say goodbye to my friends,” he said.
He said this visit back to the province he left more than seven years ago would help with his healing
process and allow him to mentally move forward from the tragedies of war.
A little more than a year after Campbell was injured, Spc. Derek Bradshaw, a Yucca Valley, Calif. native,
deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq, with the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team,
25th Infantry Division. While out on patrol, his vehicle rolled off a 20-foot cliff, killing the driver,
Spc. Daniel McConnell and leaving Bradshaw and the other passengers disabled.
9432
Wounded warriors received certificates of appreciation, a small token
of gratitude for their service and sacrifice, at a ceremony hosted by
4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, United States
Division – Center, in their honor, Dec. 10, at Camp Ramadi, Iraq.
“They didn’t think I was going to make it,” Bradshaw said, recalling the Nov. 16, 2004
incident that left him with TBI, multiple face fractures, a broken arm and nerve damage.
Bradshaw heard about Operation Proper Exit through his battle buddy, Spc. Carlos Ortiz,
1st Batt., 27th Inf. Regt., 2nd BCT, 25th Inf. Div., and a Seaside Heights, N.J., native,
who also almost plummeted to his death in the same roll-over accident.
“Ortiz told me about this opportunity to come back and without hesitation I jumped onboard
” Bradshaw said. “It gives Soldiers like me a chance to return, talk to the other Soldiers
who are currently deployed, and gives us a chance to leave—this time, on our own two feet.”
Bradshaw, Ortiz, Campbell and the other wounded warriors, met with 4th AAB, 3rd Inf. Div.,
Soldiers and discussed the days that nearly claimed their lives.
9433
Spc. Derek Bradshaw (right), deployed to Kirkuk with the 1st Battalion,
27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division,
and a Yucca Valley, Calif., native shows Spc. Todd Davis (center), with Brigade
Special Troops Battalion, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division,
United States Division – Center, some of his injuries he sustained Nov. 16, 2004,
when his Humvee plummeted off a 20-foot cliff.
“This is allowing us to get closure a lot of us need,” Bradshaw said. “Most of this
closure comes from talking one-on-one with the soldiers—people we can relate to—and it really helps.”
The wounded warriors agreed a little small talk with their brothers and sisters-in-arms helped them cope,
and said it was good to see their personal sacrifices helped to make a difference for the people of America and Iraq.
“It’s awesome to see how much the Iraqi forces have grown in confidence and in numbers,
” Bradshaw said. “It’s phenomenal to be able to come back and see this first-hand.”
Sgt. 1st Class Joe James, a Bethpage, Tenn., native, and returning wounded warrior agrees.
“It’s only been a few years, but I feel like Iraq is a completely different place,” he said
of the improvements he has seen since he last left.
James, who has deployed to combat four times, was wounded in 2008 when an IED hit his Humvee,
killing one and wounding him and two others. He said it was nice to see the combat roles have finally shifted to advise and assist.
“Iraq today is nothing like it was in 2005 and 2006, and that’s because of you,
” Altman told James and the rest of the wounded warriors. “Our Soldiers are safer,
more secure and are able to advise and assist the Iraqis, due to your hard work and sacrifice.”
9434
Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Goodwater (left), command sergeant
major with 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade,
United States Division - Center, thanks Spc. Derek Bradshaw (right), who was wounded,
Nov. 16, 2004 when his humvee fell off a 20-foot cliff. Bradshaw returned to Iraq, Dec. 10,
to gain a sense of closure after his near-death incident through Operation Proper Exit.
Altman and Command Sgt. Maj. William Johnson, command sergeant major with 1st Armored Division,
United States Division – Center, handed each of the warriors a certificate of appreciation
as a small token of their gratitude toward the heroes who have helped pave the way for other
service members and the Government of Iraq, today.
“Whether you realize it or not, each of you are truly an inspiration,
” Altman said to the wounded warriors. “To return to a place where you nearly lost your
lives takes courage and gives me direct insight into the type of servicemen you were and
veterans you are as you are still committed to serving our country.”
9435
Sgt. Maj. Darren Woodland, operations sergeant major
with 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division,
United States Division – Center, thanks Cpl. Michael Campbell, Dec. 10,
for his sacrifice. Campbell was wounded by and improvised explosive
device in 2003 and returned to Iraq, as part of Operation Proper Exit.