I have been on the forum for over two years but have never really used it other to go into VIP now and then. but I have been reading it more and more over the last few Days. For those of you who dont know me I'm Apoe_lacks but amber renamed me applejacks.
I would liketo ask you patience as I tell you a story. But before I type any more I will say sorry for my typing the reason why will come clear as I type. A Shrink that I was seeing sugested I write this all out but I have never had the nerve until now. So here goes....
I am a (US)army officer by trade. I joined in 2001 and was in OCS(Officer Candidate School) on 9/11. When my training was compelte I was sent to an armor unit at Ft. Benning, Ga. where I deployed to Kuwait in dec of 2002 and then helped lead the charge into Iraq march of 2003. I was in iraq until Jan '04 when I retured home and was transferd to the 1st Cavlary Div. At Ft Hood, Tx. I did two more trips to iraq in '05 for 14 months and '07 for 18. When I returned I was transferd to another unit at and begain to train for a depoylment to Afghanistan which I did the last week of Aug. 2010. From the moment I got there I felt that country was A shit hole. and was really starting to wonder why we where there. But I am A Solider and was going to do my job no matter what. On Nov. 2nd 2010 I was in the lead Humvee of a convoy when my vehicle was struck by and IED(improvised explosive device ) on the passenger side where i was seated. I remember very little about the explotion So I can only tell you what I was told about it later. I climed out of the humvee and was trying to walk around the other side of what was left of it to see if my driver was okay. I ofcourse was in sock and had a TBI(Traumatic Brain Injury) My other injuries where a shatterd left foot a peice o metal sticking out of my left hip that left a 10 inch gash, and most of my left hand was blown off. also about 100 other cuts and gashes. one of my Battle buddies came up and grabed me and pulled me to the ground. and A medic was on me in less then a min. He saved my live. neither of the other two people in my humvee where seriously hurt. I was medivacted to germany where I woke up three days later. three weeks later I was flown to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in DC. For the past almost 18m. i have been rehaping at walter reed at 1st then AT Brooks army medcial center in San Antonio.
While most of my wounds have healed I do Walk with a little limb. the hardest thing to over come has been the TBI and the loss of my hand. My mind no longer works like it should and I have no controll over temper or rage..... Sometimes I cry for no reason. and comming to terms wth the loss off a hand has been very hard. I have a prosthetic which is state of the art and cost the american taxpayer 200k and I can do much of what i use to do. but of course its not the same. i am medicaly retired from the army and have a bran new truck and am here picking up a new 5th wheel aand im going to spend a year or soo traveling around the country to see what ive been fighting for.
Well theres my story I hope you read it I know long soo i dout anyone will. but there it is
I would like to know what you think if You do read it..