bobdina
10-05-2009, 11:33 AM
October 05, 2009
Navy News|by CMC Jeremy L. Wood
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor and a Purple Heart to a Navy SEAL at the National Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
Shaking hands with the wounded West Coast-based SEAL, Mabus talked with Lt. Daniel Cnossen, who recently came out of another surgery, about his treatment and expressed encouragement to a speedy recovery.
Cnossen, who was presented the awards for his actions in combat operations in Afghanistan, is no stranger to a challenge or perseverance.
His "never given up, never stopped fighting" attitude was evident in his hospital room. Cnossen insists that this tragedy should not deter Naval Special Warfare (NSW) members, and U.S. military "from aggressively pursuing the enemy."
The West Coast-based SEAL was severely injured Sept. 7 on a hilltop by an improvised explosive device (IED) during the mission and was saved by the immediate medical assistance rendered by the team corpsman. Together, they navigated down the hill, encountering more secondary IEDs. Later, team members were quickly evacuated by helicopter. Though he lost large quantities of blood and received severe injuries leading to the amputation of both legs at the knees, Cnossen continued to direct his teammates and assess the tactical situation.
Cnossen's team assaulted the compound to discover several thousands of pounds of narcotics, small arms weapons, and IEDs, to include components such as warheads, detonation materials, bulk explosive and four tons of ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer used in explosives devices.
He was transported to Landstuhl, Germany, for more specialized medical assistance, and then continuing on to Bethesda.
His sister, Leslie, has given up her job at New York University as a nurse to move to Washington, D.C., to take care of Cnossen. His mother also made commutes from Kansas to be with him in Maryland.
"Dan is in good spirits and is already formulating a plan for recovery," said his mother, Alice Landers. "He's climbed Machu Picchu and hiked Patagonia's Torres del Paine, so you can bet he'll attack his recovery plan with the same unbelievable resolve."
Upon arrival, Cnossen was immediately met by family and teammates who had been flown in by the NSW Foundation to provide the physical and emotional support necessary to begin recovery.
On his blog, Leslie continues to write about her brother staying "perky and cracking jokes all the time. That IED certainly didn't take away his sense of humor."
He has progressed along his recovery, including the ability to swallow and drink on his own accord, ahead of the doctors' original milestones. Doctors have adjusted his surgery schedule to keep up his recovery.
His brothers from the SEALs echoed there excitement via blog posts, even providing a virtual salute to his health.
"His spirit and determination will always serve as an example for us all," said one of Cnossen's close friends.
Wally Graves III, the Resiliency Program Manager for NSW Group 1, met with Cnossen's family before his arrival and assisted in coordinating the support elements.
"His mother has been an incredible pillar of strength for him, and the Naval Special Warfare family will continue to take care of all its returning Sailors, especially heroes like Dan," said Graves.
Graves, along with his assistant Susan Letterman, have been working with numerous military groups, including the NSW Foundation and the Care Coalition, to ensure his and his family's extra needs are being met.
Cnossen is a 2002 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and Basic Underwater Demolition School. He was previously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Joint Service Achievement Medal.
Navy News|by CMC Jeremy L. Wood
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor and a Purple Heart to a Navy SEAL at the National Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
Shaking hands with the wounded West Coast-based SEAL, Mabus talked with Lt. Daniel Cnossen, who recently came out of another surgery, about his treatment and expressed encouragement to a speedy recovery.
Cnossen, who was presented the awards for his actions in combat operations in Afghanistan, is no stranger to a challenge or perseverance.
His "never given up, never stopped fighting" attitude was evident in his hospital room. Cnossen insists that this tragedy should not deter Naval Special Warfare (NSW) members, and U.S. military "from aggressively pursuing the enemy."
The West Coast-based SEAL was severely injured Sept. 7 on a hilltop by an improvised explosive device (IED) during the mission and was saved by the immediate medical assistance rendered by the team corpsman. Together, they navigated down the hill, encountering more secondary IEDs. Later, team members were quickly evacuated by helicopter. Though he lost large quantities of blood and received severe injuries leading to the amputation of both legs at the knees, Cnossen continued to direct his teammates and assess the tactical situation.
Cnossen's team assaulted the compound to discover several thousands of pounds of narcotics, small arms weapons, and IEDs, to include components such as warheads, detonation materials, bulk explosive and four tons of ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer used in explosives devices.
He was transported to Landstuhl, Germany, for more specialized medical assistance, and then continuing on to Bethesda.
His sister, Leslie, has given up her job at New York University as a nurse to move to Washington, D.C., to take care of Cnossen. His mother also made commutes from Kansas to be with him in Maryland.
"Dan is in good spirits and is already formulating a plan for recovery," said his mother, Alice Landers. "He's climbed Machu Picchu and hiked Patagonia's Torres del Paine, so you can bet he'll attack his recovery plan with the same unbelievable resolve."
Upon arrival, Cnossen was immediately met by family and teammates who had been flown in by the NSW Foundation to provide the physical and emotional support necessary to begin recovery.
On his blog, Leslie continues to write about her brother staying "perky and cracking jokes all the time. That IED certainly didn't take away his sense of humor."
He has progressed along his recovery, including the ability to swallow and drink on his own accord, ahead of the doctors' original milestones. Doctors have adjusted his surgery schedule to keep up his recovery.
His brothers from the SEALs echoed there excitement via blog posts, even providing a virtual salute to his health.
"His spirit and determination will always serve as an example for us all," said one of Cnossen's close friends.
Wally Graves III, the Resiliency Program Manager for NSW Group 1, met with Cnossen's family before his arrival and assisted in coordinating the support elements.
"His mother has been an incredible pillar of strength for him, and the Naval Special Warfare family will continue to take care of all its returning Sailors, especially heroes like Dan," said Graves.
Graves, along with his assistant Susan Letterman, have been working with numerous military groups, including the NSW Foundation and the Care Coalition, to ensure his and his family's extra needs are being met.
Cnossen is a 2002 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and Basic Underwater Demolition School. He was previously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Joint Service Achievement Medal.