atlas666

I feel like we have enough things on our plate on the home front so we should have concentrated on our economy and security first

We were told the unit we were replacing took heavy casualties so I never had the thought completely out of my head

Its just a harsh reality that I have to deal with. I signed the papers so I can't blame anyone other then myself and the guys that put that bomb there

While I was in Texas I didnt have too much of a support system but now that I am in the state I grew up in it has definitely turned around. Walking on Prostetics is like trying to walk through sand all the time while constantly being off balance

Firstly, I just want to thank you for your service and courage. Your sacrifice is not lost on this humbled Canadian.

My questions are the following:

• What inspired you to join the armed services?

I wanted to be a medic to help people and be the guy that people would be able to come to for help

• Being an Army medic, you must have to cope with lack of supplies and make do with what you have. How would you rate the medical expertise of the local population?

I would rate it at very poor. When we walked by I would treat children with what I had and hopefully they would come back for it to be looked at. Which usually never happened.

• Please share your experiences, if any, with the local population. Specifically, I would like to know how the NATO forces are engaging with locals to establish that human trust.

I would treat what we could medically out in the field but that's about all I did as a medic

• If you feel comfortable doing so, please describe the moment of the explosion. Being a medic, you probably understood what was happening medically faster than a standard soldier might

I set down my aid bag inside the cement school doorway and took a step outside of the building and then the next thing I knew was my mouth was full of dirt and my eyes were covered in it also. I smelt the explosives as I clawed the dirt out of my mouth. The first thing I did was try to get up and find my rifle (which was blown off along with my eye protection and helmet). I was only able to slightly move my left leg and my tibia and fibula were completely uncovered and the only thing holding them together was the top of a new pair of boots I had just bought the day before. By the time I saw my tight leg was completely gone up to the knee we started taking fire. I knew I was in terrible shape and took my TQ and started yelling "medic down" started my left leg and a team leader made it over and finished that TQ and placed another. The medic arrived as I was trying to work the other TQ around my right leg. I ended up with 4 TQ (2 on each leg) which I remember hurting worse then my legs did. I injected myself with an auto-injector of morphine in my leg then I chomped down two fentanyl "lollipops". By thus time my first Sgt and weapons squad leader made it to me and kept me calm as I did my best to stay awake and make fun.

I know there is video somewhere of it but I just have to find out where.