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Commander returns home with injured legs, arm

Aug-23-2005 » Filed Under: 1/25 SBCT

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The News Tribune

Army Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla arrived at Madigan Army Medical Center late Monday for treatment of wounds he suffered Friday in a firefight in Mosul, Iraq.

Officials said Kurilla, commander of the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, was shot in the arm and leg and suffered a broken leg.

He was reported in stable condition.

He is the highest-ranking officer in Fort Lewis’ second Stryker brigade to be seriously wounded in Iraq.

News that Kurilla was wounded came first via the online journal of freelance writer Michael Yon, who is embedded with the battalion known as “Deuce Four” and has written extensively about its operations – and its colorful commander. (Yon’s blog is at michaelyon.blogspot.com/)

He wrote Kurilla “was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of my eyes. Despite being seriously wounded, Kurilla immediately rejoined the intense and close-quarter fight that ended in hand-to-hand combat.

“Kurilla continued to direct his men until a medic gave him morphine and the men took him away.”

The brigade’s rear detachment commander, Maj. Nicholas Mullen, confirmed Monday that Kurilla had been shot near the elbow and in one leg.

It was the other leg that was broken, he said. [...]

Related:

Attacks injure two Fort Lewis battalion leaders - The Olympian


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