From the Wounded Warrior Project.

On February 22, 2006, Specialist Dan Perry was severely injured in a bunker west of Ramadi, referred to as Position 3-South. Position 3-South was a wooden bunker fortified by sandbags, strategically placed directly on top of two parallel railroad lines. Along with two other soldiers, Sergeant Schladweiler and Specialist Fisher, all three were going about their regular duties and had completed about four hours of a five-hour shift.

At about 3:15 pm, they began receiving small-arms fire from the north, northeast, and northwest. Spc. Fisher called to position 3-East (approximately 300 meters to the northwest of position 3-South) and reported that the small-arms fire was coming from a car that was driving down a road. At the same time, Sgt. Schladweiler called in a fire mission for artillery. Then, four or five rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) hit the bunker position at 3-South. Spc. Fisher was injured during the RPG attack, and it is believed that Sgt. Schladweiler and Dan were pulling him out of the bunker while still returning fire, as all seven of their 30-round magazines were later found used. While their attention was diverted to the north, a motorized railroad cart with three 170mm improvised explosive devices (IEDs) slammed into the east side of the bunker, causing it to explode and collapse on the three soldiers.

At position 3-East, Sergeant Garza, Sergeant Tyree, and Specialist Flynt had responded to Spc. Fisher’s call and were returning fire at the oncoming car. Spc. Flynt was knocked out of the turret by an explosion (the RPGs at 3-South) and then felt a second larger explosion (the IEDs at 3-South). Sgt. Tyree attempted to call Spc. Fisher, and when no answer was received, he looked out the window to see that 3-South was leveled.

Sgt. Garza, Sgt. Tyree, and Spc. Flynt ran up the hill towards 3-South while still receiving enemy fire. When they got to the exploded bunker, only Sgt. Schladweiler could be seen with his head just above the sandbags. Spc. Fisher could be heard from under what used to be the roof. After Sgt. Schladweiler was pulled out, they saw Dan’s arm under a pile of sandbags. Dan was found unconscious, with his breathing passages severely injured by the weight of sandbags on top of him. Nothing could be done for Dan with the first aid supplies on hand, so Spc. Flynt sat on top of the hill holding Dan’s head in his lap to help him breath, waiting for the medics to arrive.

First they were transported by Humvee to their camp, and in the process, Dan was given an emergency tracheotomy.  Then, Sgt. Schladweiler, Spc. Fisher, and Dan were taken by medevac to Balad. In Balad, Dan received a shunt to relieve the pressure on his injured and swelling brain. When Dan arrived in Germany the day following his injury, he was stabilized to fly to Walter Reed Army Medical Center along with Sgt. Schladweiler. Dan stayed at Walter Reed for seven weeks, where he had numerous surgeries and a skin graft.

Dan’s injuries include a traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, shrapnel and powder tattooing to the left side of his face, neck, upper arms, shoulders, and other parts of his body. He has physical damage to his left ear, and inner-, middle- and outer-ear damage with permanent hearing loss. He broke his right thumb, wrist and arm, and sustained other open wounds and lacerations which have since healed. He has permanent vision loss and damage to his left eye, and nerve damage on several areas of his body.

In early April, Dan was transferred to the Palo Alto VA Medical Center, where he underwent testing and treatment for his traumatic brain injury, as well as his other physical injuries. In August, Dan returned home to Connecticut. Dan has since been receiving medical treatment and therapy at Mt. Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital. Dan has also made several trips to Walter Reed Hospital for appointments, symposiums, and surgery. In April of 2007, he was medically retired from the military.

There are 30,000 other stories similar to this one. This Veterans Day, along with saying “thanks” to a soldier, please consider donating to the Wounded Warrior Project. The WWP provides services to the most seriously injured soldiers as they readjust to civilian life.