5/6/2007
The experience of Walter Reed - Final
American Soldier says,
I wanted to install the final portion of my experiences at Walter Reed. I don’t want to not forget about it because so many emotions and things happened while I was there. So here it goes.
Above photo was taken on the campus on Walter Reed
Day 3
My wife and I checked into the clinic we were scheduled for that morning. We sat that for a little while and just watched people. Various soldiers with limbs missing, in wheel chairs, eye patches. I really felt minimized with the injuries I was there for. I know those guy wouldn’t want me to feel bad for them or even look at them with sadness. They were proud of who they were. I know dam well it took a while for them to get in their uniform that morning. One soldier had his mother with him. He was too proud for her to help him sit down. He wanted to do it on his own. She sat down across from him. He sort of gave her the ‘I got it mom’ look. A soldier limped over and sat across from my wife and me. He had the same combat patch as me. I smiled and made a remark about how small the world is. We began to small talk about the AO that our unit was in charge of. I talked a little about my injury and he did the same. It wasn’t very long before the now typical response mutter from his mouth. “My wife left me….” Nearly all the soldiers my wife and I had the good fortune to talk to said basically the same thing. I didn’t want to go down that path so I changed up the subject. I asked him about how much longer is his stay at Walter Reed. He didn’t know for sure. Come to find out he was from my home state and assigned to a unit that was deployed last year. He spoke about wanting to get back in the fight. He knew he would not be able any time soon or ever for that matter. He had been injured to the point where he is wheelchair bound. He walks with great pain but does it because like all of us, wants to be or feel normal. Short of falling down, he’s going to walk and get to where he needs to. As he spoke, I just couldn’t help but feel proud to share the same uniform and be under the same flag as this guy. These are the true heroes here. Despite all the odds in the world he just wants to get better and rejoin his fellow warriors. He got called in and I stood to shake his hand and figured that would be it. My wife and I had to go to another section of the hospital because our appointment got delayed. So we went away and came back about 30 minutes later. He was back in the lobby area and we sat across from him. He smiled as our daughter cooed and looked at him. He talked a little more about his child and how much he missed him. He said that the state had taken custody of him because his ex-wife had gone off and began sleeping around; doing drugs and the child was in danger. He was not allowed to go home and take care of the matter because of his injuries. He said he just lay in a hospital bed and watched his life tumble out of control. I felt for this guy and it really made me pissed. He doesn’t know how long he is going to be here. The Med board proceeding can be a very long and daunting task. He has some fairly complicated nerve damage and feels that Walter Reed is the only place he can be at the moment. The CBHCO program in New England is out of Hanscom Massachusetts. Apparently they are at max capacity. He is so young but yet his life is so affected with things that shouldn’t even be rendered on your worst enemy. The crazy thing about it is he is upbeat and is optimistic. I knew my appointment was soon and I wanted to get his info. I told him that I would see what I could do and I would do what I could to get him home. He sort of smirked and said “I really don’t have a home any more.” Almost as if for a moment he felt defeated. I replied that we never leave each other behind. He nodded with acknowledgment and I patted his shoulder and moved out to my appointment.
Yes, those are my hands.
Day 4
On my final day of treatment my wife and I were about to leave. I was circling the round about in front of Building 1 and really was indecisive with which way I was going. You know us men; we like to figure it out. Well I was either having a figuring it out moment or a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) moment while driving. I decided to head out towards the Malogne House and as I passed it I noticed a soldier with a cane limping along. My first thought was man that is fucked up. I rolled my window down with the intent to offer him a ride and I recognized his patch and then his face. I yelled out to him. He smiled and I pulled over. He hobbled over to me and I ask him how he was doing. It was very apparent that he was winded and hurting. He was with me in Iraq and consequently got wounded in an IED attack. It nearly took his foot off. Here he was WALKING on it! He said his unit drove him down here and dropped him off and went back home. I was getting pissed yet again. I asked him if the Med hold unit was helping him. He just shook his head and told me that he just got there and the in processing takes you all around the Walter Reed campus. There was no mode of transportation that is setup automatically for the ‘walking’ wounded. He really shouldn’t be walking, but he is the type of soldier who isn’t going to go out of his way to complain or make waves in the pond. We talked a little more and I told him that I would make some calls. I got in my car and did the following
1st Call – A very senior NCO I have some clout with.
2nd Emailed – Soldiers’ Angels.
The result changed things for him quickly. On the military side of the house it was made apparent that someone needs to be helping him with transportation and that his condition was more obvious for his Platoon Sergeant at Walter Reed. The problem with not having a warm hand off results in soldiers getting fucked. Truly that is the case for most things. He was not handed off properly and damn it the basic tenet to leadership is taking care of your soldiers!!
The Soldier Angels’ portion was great. Patti Patton-Bader emailed me and said that all she needed was a name and number. It wasn’t any sooner that I got off the phone with her that she set the wheels in motion with the various Angel’s in the area. She also sent me $500 to give to him. When it was all said and done she got a hold of his wife and made plans to fly her out for the weekend. She set them up in a hotel and will be providing a laptop for him so he can continue that communication when she is gone. Needless to say I was really beside myself. I took him out to dinner that night and gave him the money and told him to buy his wife something nice and enjoy their time together. The only thing I made him promise was to pay it forward in the future. I told him that if he ever saw a soldier in need that he do the same thing. He acknowledged and I could see the tears build in his eyes as he said thank you.
The Walter Reed experience truly opened my eyes. The care I received was fantastic. The memories and available opportunities to help soldiers are endless there. You could basically talk to every wounded warrior there and find a way to help him or her. The hallowed ground that yields so much pain and suffering is ours. We need not forget the sacrifices that each and every one of those brave warriors gave for what we seem to take for granted. Our freedom and that alone has been paid with our blood. I take from Walter Reed not only my medical treatment but the sense of what it ‘truly’ means to sacrifice oneself for our United States of America.
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15 Responses to “The experience of Walter Reed - Final”
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Sir, I am a “100% Totally and Permanently Service Connected Disabled Vet”, diagnosed with traumatic brain injury or TBI. You have written this journey through Walter Reed. You did not write this post as a reporter, blogger or even a patient, but as a “warrior-patient”. What is a “warrior-patient”? These are the people from the military community, who were injured during a time of war. Proud, but disciplined. Tenacious, good grief, they could give a wolverine lessons in tenacity. But as in all things, for many reasons, it is best for a particular warrior to come home. Though, he might not like it, this warrior discipline commands him to follow a different path. Since it becomes a “lawful military order”, he follows a different path. Nobody understands it, but it is still the best choice. Don’t worry, the tenactiy is still cooking and looking for a way to stay in the battle. This is the way I see you. You are very much still in the battle to protect this nation Your battle space is a little different, much more complex. You’ll work your way through it.
One more thing, Thank You, for walking us through Walter Reed and its problems. The inside view, nothing like it.
Respectfully-
Grumpy
AS
As I sit in front of my computer in my comfortable house, with my grown children (one a military man) close by, I cry for all of you. Please dont take that wrong, they are tears of hurt and frusteration for all you brave young hero’s are going through. I wish I could be a lot closer to military hospitals to lend a hand or a shoulder to help you all. AS and Mrs AS thank you for letting regular old folks like me into your lives. God bless you both.
The emotions are mixed. The treatment of our wounded, both physically and mentally should be paramount. Yet, I hurt when I read of the damage this war has caused. Yet, I am proud of the way our warriors are responding to challenges most civilians will never face.
I feel for those who come back, and find that the home and security they counted on when they returned has vanished. They deserve better than that, much better.
Thx AS for posting this.
My emotions have become very stoic over the last year as I have dealt with knowledge of so many things and personal experiences that I just don’t know how to handle, in regards to the subject you were speaking of. However, this brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for your open report of WR and of the warrior-patients. Thank you.
AS and Mrs. AS:
I can only say I am humbled by your words. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Sacrifice and pain… writ on the hands of him who endured… endures both… for us. I can’t ever get close to appreciating that the way you deserve. I try to, at least, be an abiding, grateful witness.
AS- I am honored to have had a chance to sit and talk with you and hear a bit of your story. I admire your confidence and clarity. And, your story here is just terrific. I can see why Matt included you in “The Blog of War”. I hope you get some great help in the months ahead.
It was an interesting journey for me to sit down and read the comments after mine. I saw your hands in a picture, very powerful with the words “sacrifice” and “pain”. But these words need to be in the discussions around the kitchen table and the other important places in our lives. Military Granny, you really stand out in my thoughts. The reason is this, you have done the impossible. You have let go of your son and let him go to war. But this is a fine example of “sacrifice” and “pain”. Just a thought about “Military Granny”, remember 1 thing, they know more ways to get even.
Respectfully,
Grumpy
all I can say to everyone at walter reed and all the other hospitals-thanks you will not be forgotten
God bless you AS for sharing your story. As far as soldiers “wives” leaving them I believe it is a blessing for them. The women have shown their true colors and it wasn’t USA colors. Time does heal as i am a wife of a VietNam veteran and can attest to that. Be strong AS and follow your treatment outlined to you. You are a very special person and do not forget that! Our wounded veterans need more and need to speak up more as you have. I thank you sir for doing that. May God bless you and your family.
I started my day with an eye exam today, complete with those nasty dialation eye drops. They burn and are uncomfortable, not to mention the sensativity to light which lasts for hours afterward.
I started to whaa-whaa about the eye drops, then I said “Well, I really shouldn’t complain. I spent 3 hours visiting patients at Walter Reed on Saturday.”
It’s true. The spirit of these wounded warriors is just absolutely amazing. They’re not “broken”… just “temporarily sidetracked”. They’re eager to tell the world about the excellent medical care they’re received at WR, and bash the “bad eggs” who ran to the media, crying about poor medical care. True, their living quarters were f’d up, but the medical care is world-class.
Anyway, the point is… if you get the chance to spend time around a wounded soldier- I HIGHLY recommend it. Just treat them “normal”, and the story will unfold in due time. And don’t ever… and I mean EVER pity these men. They have more courage and pride than I could ever hope to muster- pity just isn’t in their vocabulary so I suggest you avoid it at all costs.
God bless you both.
Wow, just wow! That is a very powerful post. Powerful words and it draws a powerful picture. Thank you for sharing all of this with us. Thank You for all you have sacrificed in the past, the present and of what you’ll sacrifice in the future. Please let your wife know that I thank her, for her sacrifice too.
Nelly
Sir,
With all my heart… I say “Thank You” for your dedication, your service, your sacrifice, your brotherhood, your pain, and your selflessness. I come from a long line of “Semper Fi’s” and I understand the hardships that walk hand in hand with war and its aftermath. I pledge my love, dedication, and soul to this country -unconditionally and forever -as do you. I constantly remain speechless as to how to express my gratitude for the gifts men, women, warrirors, SOLDIERS like you have given through your service. There are no words to express the heartfelt emotion evoked in me when I think of your sacrifices.
A very close friend of mine (who happens to be an “EX”) is currently deployed in Iraq. She is out of Sierra Vista, from the 104th. SSG Marissa Manning. Havent heard from her in several weeks since her unit left out of Kuwait for a mission. I absolutely understand what stress you mentioned when it comes to spouses. As stated, yes, shes and Ex (Ive never stopped loving her though) but still… NOTHING I have ever felt has compared to the exhaustion of worrying about her. Its heart wrenching to watch the news, to hear of an IED that took out a unit, or to know our men and women - our dads, brothers, sons, moms, daughters, sisters, friends, and on and on -are at the mercy of US politics.
It is absolutely tourtureous to endure the prisim of nasty ideas and images our imagination conjures. If Im safe behind our own borders and feel that way…. I am forced to acknowlede that, God only, could define what those in the midst of the war are thinking and feeling.
I sincerely appreciate your postings… they are powerful… they are a reminder of what this countrys fabric truly is…. people like you, like those at Walter Reed, those who will not, no matter what, under any circumstance be broken! I will continue to monitor your postings. Stay strong.
Sir,
With all my heart… I say “Thank You” for your dedication, your service, your sacrifice, your brotherhood, your pain, and your selflessness. I come from a long line of “Semper Fi’s” and I understand the hardships that walk hand in hand with war and its aftermath. I pledge my love, dedication, and soul to this country -unconditionally and forever -as do you. I constantly remain speechless as to how to express my gratitude for the gifts men, women, warrirors, SOLDIERS like you have given through your service. There are no words to express the heartfelt emotion evoked in me when I think of your sacrifices.
A very close friend of mine (who happens to be an “EX”) is currently deployed in Iraq. She is out of Sierra Vista, from the 104th. SSG Marissa Manning. Havent heard from her in several weeks since her unit left out of Kuwait for a mission. I absolutely understand what stress you mentioned when it comes to spouses. As stated, yes, shes and Ex (Ive never stopped loving her though) but still… NOTHING I have ever felt has compared to the exhaustion of worrying about her. Its heart wrenching to watch the news, to hear of an IED that took out a unit, or to know our men and women - our dads, brothers, sons, moms, daughters, sisters, friends, and on and on -are at the mercy of US politics.
It is absolutely tourtureous to endure the prisim of nasty ideas and images our imagination conjures. If Im safe behind our own borders and feel that way…. I am forced to acknowlede that, God only, could define what those in the midst of the war are thinking and feeling.
I sincerely appreciate your postings… they are powerful… they are a reminder of what this countrys fabric truly is…. people like you, like those at Walter Reed, those who will not, no matter what, under any circumstance be broken! I will continue to monitor your postings. Stay strong.