Home » Archives » "Wounded Soldiers return to lead"

Wounded Soldiers return to lead

Apr-11-2008 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

Great article from the Northwest Guardian re: two 3/2 SBCT soldiers.

By Don Kramer, Northwest Guardian

Two Soldiers deployed to Iraq from Fort Lewis and returned with broken bodies.

One lost his right leg and the other, his spleen and sections of other internal organs.

But facing punishing physical therapy and uncertain futures in the Army, the junior officer and senior NCO set the same goal to once again lead Soldiers. They turned what for many is a sad, not uncommon story of struggle against challenges into an inspirational one of achievement and hope.

During the first week of February, Capt. Damon Armeni and 1st Sgt. John Blue put on green leadership tabs as a cavalry troop commander and an infantry company first sergeant in 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. For Armeni, it was almost four years after his Stryker vehicle was hit by a modified rocket-propelled grenade. For Blue, only a year had passed since his Stryker hit an improvised explosive device.

Though men of radically different temperaments, they shared many common values, including the strong desire for no special favors.

The stories of Capt. Damon Armeni and 1st Sgt. John Blue are known by word-of-mouth in their units, though with the brigade well into the reset process, many who knew their stories have departed. Thanks to local news accounts, their grievous injuries are also known throughout the Tacoma and Fort Lewis area.

Less known is the determination they shared to resume their lives and military careers despite the daily challenges of their combat injuries.

“It’s not like Vietnam,” Blue said, with its accounts of returning Soldiers ignored and disdained. A more responsive wartime medical system took into account their desire to serve and facilitated their return to duty. “I want people to understand that the Army will keep you,” Blue said. “The Army doesn’t want to get rid of you. The Army has invested all this time and money to make you knowledgeable and if you want to stay, they will find something for you, a job for you to do and get you back in to pass on that knowledge.”

With improvements in medicine and emergency transportation, more Soldiers than ever are surviving their combat wounds. Leaders say the Army is responding by not automatically looking for ways to discharge wounded warriors.

“There are a lot of Soldiers throughout the Army ... who have been wounded and come back to leadership positions,” Lt. Col. Joseph Davidson said, of 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, now Armeni’s commanding officer. “Most of them don’t want recognition for overcoming the odds. (Armeni and Blue) are humble guys and I think that’s part of their healing process. If you weren’t humble before, I think it makes you humble. It makes you reassess your life, your goals and aspirations.” [...]

This long article continues - be sure to read it all.


Comments For "Wounded Soldiers return to lead":

I would like to understand why and how you pick your articles. The 3/2 has been home since October 2007. The 4/2 and specifically the 4/9 of the 4/2 has been there since 4/2007 and is still there, due home in 2 months finally, and we read almost nothing about it. But the 3/2 is still right there. I do not mind hearing what is going on, I just wish there was a balance. So how does it work???

Posted by: MaryGrace Toomey | April 11, 2008 8:30 PM

We don't write the articles, we just publish the ones we find. We do publish everything we find, however, so we're not ignoring anyone.

Posted by: Todd | April 11, 2008 10:09 PM

I met First Sgt. Blue shortly after the 3/2's return last fall. I can only imagine what an inspiration he is to his soldiers because words cannot describe how awestruck I was by him. Meeting this soldier was a very humbling experience.

To the commenter above. The VOLUNTEERS who administer this site have done a wonderful job over the last 4+ years to consolidate news about all of the stryker brigades. They have also diligently monitored a forum for family members to come and support each other during very tough times. Even though it creates more work for these volunteers, they have always welcomed new brigades as they have come to life, and supported their families in an impartial manner. I understand your frustration when there is little or no news but it is not the fault of this site.

Posted by: Strykeraunt | April 12, 2008 12:29 AM

Post a comment

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by a site administrator before your comment will appear. We appreciate your patience.)

Advertisements