After my rant on Tuesday, I came across a story of another soldier doing something that brings tears to my eyes and a warm feeling to my heart. Here's the start of his story.
Josh Hargis, of the 3rd Ranger Battalion, underwent extensive surgery in a military hospital in Afghanistan after a suicide bomber detonated, killing four of his comrades according to reports. He was on his fourth tour of Afghanistan. This is picture taken at the time he was wounded...
In the Afghan hospital, he was presented a Purple Heart by his commander and fellow soldiers. Here's a letter his commander wrote to Josh's wife:
"Josh was seriously wounded as you know and survived for almost two hours after his injury before arriving to the hospital. Josh was immediately pushed through a series of surgeries and emerged hours later into an intensive care unit here at our base in Afghanistan.
Despite being in intense pain and mental duress, Josh remained alert and compassionate to the limited Rangers that were allowed to visit him bedside.
Prior to Josh being moved to Germany for his eventual flight to America, we conducted a ceremony to award him with the Purple Heart for wounds received in action.
A simple ceremony, you can picture a room full of Rangers, leaders, doctors, and nurses surrounding his bedside while the Ranger Regimental Commander pinned the Purple Heart to his blanket.
During the presentation the Commander publishes the official orders verbally and leaned over Josh to thank him for his sacrifice.
Josh, whom everybody in the room (over 50 people) assumed to be unconscious, began to move his right arm under the blanket in a diligent effort to salute the Commander as is customary during these ceremonies.
Despite his wounds, wrappings, tubes, and pain, Josh fought the doctor who was trying to restrain his right arm and rendered the most beautiful salute any person in that room had ever see.
I cannot impart on you the level of emotion that poured through the intensive care unit that day. Grown men began to weep and we were speechless at a gesture that speak volumes about Josh's courage and character.
The picture, which we believe belongs on every news channel and every news paper is attached. I have it hanging above my desk now and will remember it as the single greatest event I have witnessed in my ten years in the Army."
Again, you probably won't see this in the media (other than Fox News), but I wanted to share what I consider a perfect example of the kind of people our military and veterans are.
PS: Some more information about Army Ranger Josh Hargis:
The ceremony was held just prior to Mr Hargis being flown back to Texas, U.S, via Germany, to receive further treatment. His mother, Laura Heitman, speaking to ABC Channel5, said her son 'sounded amazing' when he talked with WCPO. 'He was in good spirits,' she said.
She told the news service her 24-year-old Dater High (Cincinnati, Ohio) graduate has faced an uphill struggle to join the Army, because of a skiing accident which left him with a broken femur years ago.
But he never gave up hope. she said: 'He was just very determined. He wanted so bad to be a Ranger. After three or four times, he wrote to the Surgeon General and got accepted from the Surgeon General.'
She told ABC Channel 5 that they Rangers asked him to join up right after boot camp: 'It was a great honor.'
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