With just a few days left before mission complete on a calm, clear early morning in Mosul, Iraq, I sat in an observation point (OP) on top of a hill to help keep the routes clear. There was a small dug-in spot on top of the hill. Another squad in my platoon had another OP about a hundred meters away.
We were observing, when out of nowhere…
Incoming!
A mortar landed near the other OP! I hunkered down. One of the gunners in my platoon was running so fast down the hill, and he was a huge dude! Another mortar lands!
Then I got the order to run to my Stryker. My first thought was, “I don’t want to run out in the open when mortars are falling!” However, the two soldiers I was on the hill with took off running, and so I tailed them.
The longer I was running, the more my nerves shook. As I was getting very close to the Stryker, I stepped on a rock and the ground below it shifted, causing me to fall flat on my face. Fortunately, the Stryker’s ramp wasn’t deployed, otherwise I would’ve slammed right into it. Unfortunately, the fall twisted my ankle.
With some help, I got into the Stryker, and the decision was made to take me back to the base.
Bad Communication
In the vehicle, I was a bit frustrated. Not only was this a stupid injury, but it had to happen with just a few days left in country. My only other injury from the deployment was a scar on my thumb I received from opening a can of sardines.
I’ve sprained my ankle before, and this time it felt just a bit more painful. I was wearing about 80 pounds of gear this time, after all. That’s what I told the soldiers inside the Stryker.
The ride back to the base felt like it took forever, even though it felt like we were driving with a purpose. Then, when the Stryker’s ramp dropped, I saw why we were in a hurry.
A team of medics and the head medical personnel were waiting for me. “Wow,” I remember thinking, “What are all of them doing here?”
It turned out they were told that a soldier had broken his leg, and that soldier was me! I told them I was pretty sure I just had a sprained ankle, which they confirmed.
I have always found it weird that communication in the Army is terrible. When I entered the civilian world, I genuinely hoped it was just an Army problem, but communication seems to be a universal problem.
The Purple Heart Issue
Word starting going around that I might be getting a purple heart for this incident. I was against it. What was I going to tell my grandchildren? “Yeah, sonny, I was running away from enemy fire and I tripped and hurt myself!”?
Technically, it was an injury I received indirectly from the enemy. They never hit me with any weapon, but their weapons caused the injury to happen.
Whatever the reason, I didn’t receive a purple heart. I’ve thought a couple times about writing to the president to ask why I never received a Purple Heart, just to see if they would give it to me.
Let me know if you think I should! I still have some paperwork from the incident.
Chicken Hawks and the Purple Heart
Recently, a soldier was given a Purple Heart thirteen (13) years after he received an injury from an IED. No doubt they’re celebrating that! It’s what caused me to think about maybe a missed opportunity to receive my own Purple Heart.
Ultimately, though, I don’t regret not pushing it, but it’s fun to tell the Chicken Hawks I don’t regret it. Some of them do get a little annoyed!
What will annoy them more? Of course it’s The Hawk Bawk Manifesto!
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