Visit to Wounded Brothers at BAMC
(July 23, 2010) |
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Sgt. Christopher Stevens, from Orlando, Fl., assigned to D
Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade
Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, shares a "Man Hug" after
visiting with Sgt. 1st Class Charles Armstead, a former
platoon sergeant with D Co., 1st Bn., 12th Cav, Regt.,
during a brigade visit to Brooke Army Medical Center in San
Antonio, July 13, 2010 to encourage its wounded warriors to
coutiune their mission of recovery and rehabilitation. |
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FORT HOOD, Texas (July 19, 2010) Soldiers and Family
Readiness Group leaders from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st
Cavalry Division, traveled to Brooke Army Medical Center, in
San Antonio, July 13.
The visit was to let their wounded warrior brothers know
their unit is still behind them and to encourage them to
continue their mission of recovery and rehabilitation.
Soldiers and FRG leaders had lunch at BAMC's dining
facility, where they talked about the upcoming deployment
and the progress of the injured Soldiers.
Recuperating from injuries sustained in Operation Iraqi
Freedom 09-11, Pfc. Sean Beck, a former 3rd Battalion, 8th
Cavalry Regiment Soldier, was happy to see familiar faces. |
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“We fought side-by-side with these guys and to see them
again is definitely a morale boost,” said Beck, who suffered
injuries to his face, arms and legs from shrapnel when an
insurgent tossed a grenade under his vehicle at an Iraq
Police checkpoint in Mosul, Iraq.
“It means a lot to me personally that my unit cared enough
about us to let these guys come here for a visit, and I know
the other 3rd Brigade Soldiers rehabbing here appreciate
these visits as well. It reminds us that the leadership and
the Soldiers in the units are still behind us, encouraging
us to get better,” Beck said.
Sgt. 1st Class Charles Armstead, a former platoon sergeant
with 1st Bn., 12th Cav. Regt., knows his former unit is
training for next year's deployment, but was eager to
recollect with Soldiers he trained and deployed with.
“With so many new Soldiers in the company and so much
training on their schedule, the fact that they would take
time to come here and reminisce with us is awesome,” said
Armstead.
However, for one Soldier the trip was not about getting time
off from the training schedule, but about supporting family.
“We want our brothers here to know that even though we are
training up to deploy without them, we still have their
backs and appreciate the sacrifices that they have made,”
said Sgt. Marion Deboe, from St. Louis, Mo.
“It's important to stay-in-touch with these heroes who have
sacrificed so much, and to do whatever is necessary to
assist them in their recoveries,” he added.
Smiles and laughter served as reminders that these Soldiers
were close, as the Soldiers told stories about former and
current Soldiers from their units.
Lori Carpenter, the 3rd Brigade FRSA, said the visit to BAMC
was just what the visiting and recovering Soldiers needed.
“The visit allowed Soldiers to see their buddies, share a
few laughs, catch up on current events, but more
importantly, it allowed them to see that their buddies and
their families were being cared for and that's something
they can take back to their companies and share with the
other Soldiers who could not make the trip,” said Carpenter. |
Article and photo by Army Sgt. Karl William
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
Copyright 2010 | |
Provided
through DVIDS
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