Stryker Brigade News

“There was some pain; it could be better,” Dalton added with a smile.

Dalton had surgery while in Mosul, and after about four days he was on a journey back to Alaska that included stops in Balad, Iraq; Landstuhl, Germany; Andrews Air Force Base, Md.; Travis Air Base, Calif. and finally Fort Wainwright.

Dalton said during his travels the Army nurses and doctors were awesome.

“They went out of their way to make me comfortable and take care of me,” he explained.

“They even came back on their days off and were right there with me. I owe them a lot,” he continued. “They were like my mother for a while. They were there when I was feeling pain and comforted me.”

Dalton is now back in his home state of Hawaii for convalescent leave for 30 days and will return to Fort Wainwright to continue his recovery.

“It always feels pretty good to go back home for a while. But hopefully I will get better soon so I can go back to Iraq,” he said.

When asked about why he wants to go back, Dalton said: “It’s my job, and other than the fact that I was shot, I like my job. It’s exciting, and a once in a lifetime experience.

“At home, this is what we train for. After being over there, it changes how you look at things,” he said.

“There are kids playing soccer barefoot, houses made of mud, and we’re complaining about what’s for breakfast when they have nothing to eat,” the 21-year-old explained.

From Dalton’s first hand experience, around every corner they turned, there were children waving and smiling.

“Even the hardcore guys, when they meet the kids, they can’t wait to go back and give them Hooah bars, soccer balls and footballs,” Dalton said. “The Soldiers become kids themselves when they interact with the local kids.

“It doesn’t matter what the adults of Iraq think because the kids are the next generation of Iraq,” he added.

Dalton met up with another injured Soldier from his squad back at Fort Wainwright. His squad leader and squad designated marksman were both hit in the same incident.