Thanks to Those Who Serve
by David Hadlich
Two or three rocket-propelled
grenades (RPGs) hitting the Humvee you are driving can really ruin
your day. Victor Rojas, Specialist E-4 knows this firsthand. Even
though his job with his guard unit was to repair power generators,
he regularly volunteered for convoy duty. This meant escorting convoys
as a driver, a gunner, or a radio operator in a Humvee. Victor chose
to volunteer for this type of duty on November 16, 2004.
The convoy had stopped, waiting for the bomb disposal unit to
investigate a possible roadside bomb ahead. Victor was the Humvee
driver that day and the first RPG struck his side of the vehicle.
Shrapnel hit him and tore up his right knee. In the process of
trying to get the vehicle out of the way, he began to drive with
his left foot, and another RPG hit, this time on the right side,
disabling the vehicle.
Most of the American
public is familiar with the “bullet
proof” vest, which mainly protects the vital organs. It does
a fine job of that, even though some projectiles and shrapnel can
still penetrate it. The body’s outer extremities are more
prone to injury because they are less likely to have the same protection
that the bulletproof vest offers. Loss of limb and loss of life
due to loss of blood are the most frequent consequences of serving
in a war zone.
Can
body armor be designed so it protects more of the body? “Yes,” says
Steve Baker, Manager of Government Sales for Second Chance Body
Armor. “It is a matter of how much of the body you want to
protect, without compromising the ability to do the job. But, at
its best, war is ugly.” Baker, whose company provides protection
for our Armed Forces, knows firsthand about the consequences of
war. Just like Victor Rojas, he spent time in the service—three
tours in Vietnam in a Navy Special Forces unit.
Technology exists to outfit someone from head to toe, much like
an astronaut, making the soldier virtually impervious to injury.
However, it makes the soldier ineffective in their duties to protect
and serve. Technology also exists to fully armor vehicles. Funding
this kind of technology is no small matter. When it comes down
to creating a balance between effective protection and effective
soldiering, Uncle Sam can only ask the American taxpayer to fund
so much.
After the attack,
Victor died twice during transport from Iraq to Germany for further
medical treatment. Each time he lost oxygen to his brain, causing
a diffuse brain injury known as anoxia. Victor Rojas spent four
months at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
before being shipped to the Veterans’ Administration
Medical Center (VAMC) in Minneapolis.
The Minneapolis VAMC
is one of four in the country designated as a treatment center
for brain injuries. The remarkable work done there is nothing
short of miraculous and Victor is lucky to be the recipient of
first-rate care. He receives Physical Therapy for the damage
to his right knee, Occupational and Speech Therapy for his brain
injury, and Recreational Therapy to help him integrate back into
civilian life. He hopes to return home to Illinois for Mother’s
Day. His treatment and therapy will continue, and his prognosis
is good, although he will carry the effects of his injury forever.
The Veterans’ Administration Medical Center in Minneapolis
is one of 134 centers around the world. Located just west of Hiawatha
Avenue, and just north of Crosstown 62 in South Minneapolis, it
is quite a complex. On an average day, 131 individuals are treated
for in-patient care, and 86 are hospitalized for extended care.
The medical center also serves over 2,500 outpatients daily. It
is one of two in Minnesota; the other center is in St. Cloud. There
are also six community based Outpatient Clinics in Mankato, Hibbing,
Maple-wood, Chippewa, St. James, and Duluth. Patients come from
all 50 states, including Puerto Rico, Canada, and Europe. Among
all the VAMC’s in the U.S., the Minneapolis facility ranks
ninth in the volume of patients seen.
The choices we make have a direct effect, whether they are positive
or negative, on the lives we lead. In the case of Victor, his choices
led him directly into the line of fire. Now, many would say that
he is responsible for his choices, and they would be correct. Regardless
of your feelings about the conflict in the Middle East, respecting
and honoring the choices our service men and women make is an enormous
help in their recovery process when they encounter situations like
the one Victor Rojas faced. Honoring their choice to participate
in the protection of this country is one way we, as American citizens,
can give back to the veterans who put their lives at risk, and,
ultimately, became disabled.
If the number of men
and women who chose to serve had not volunteered for duty, our
government might have had to make a choice too—to
hold a draft. Regardless of how you feel about war and the draft,
disabled veterans of all ages deserve your gratitude for the sacrifices
they made to protect our country. As Steve Baker said, “They
gave up a part of their life, and, in many cases, a part of themselves.
The least we can do is to thank them.” With great respect,
I thank Victor Rojas, and those like him, for the part they played
in keeping America safe and free.
Upon his return to
the states, Victor commented, “When I
got back, everyone was great. They have treated me with respect,
and I have been to parades, and to the Pentagon.” Public
support has been excellent, and he asks that we continue to support
the troops and to give him and veterans like him the opportunity
to carry out the same dreams and desires they had as before their
tour of duty. Like Victor, most veterans cannot wait to get on
with the rest of their lives.
We would like to thank all the staff at the Minneapolis VAMC for
the extraordinary work they do on a daily basis. Special thanks
to Dr. Kusar, Sally Ecklund, Chantel Ostrum, and Deanne Pavel,
for without their assistance and input, this piece would not have
been possible.
