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Wildman4x4 · 12-27-2018, 11:14 PM

Howdy all,
I am a disabled veteran and served on active duty from 06/78-08/92 got out under the SSB program. Did 16 months in the IRR and then joined the Oregon National Guard 12/94-97 and then transferred to the Washington National Guard. Was activated to go to Iraq in 8/03 and my unit rolled into Iraq on 1 April 04. Was at LSA Anaconda as the 1SG of the security company that guarded the main gate. Had to come home on emergency leave in 9/04 because my ex had taken off with my 2 year old daughter.
Came home to find out she was living with another man and she was letting my daughter call him dad. Was home for 20 days and got to see her twice in all that time. My ex had put all my belongings in a storage unit and was letting her new BF drive my Jeep. I got it and my motorcycle back and then went back to Iraq. I was back in country for 8 days when I was shot in the upper right leg by a negligent discharge by a soldier trying to load a M240B that wasn't trained on it.

It shattered my femur, severed my femoral artery and damage my perineal never in my lower leg. They did a vein graft from my left leg to repair the artery in my right leg which saved the leg. After 20+ surgeries I got a plate in my leg w/12 screws to repair my femur. 6 months of no weight bearing and I was up and at it again. Was medically retired on 10 June 06 which was 10 days shy of me having 28 years total service.

On 14 May 18 I went in and had my lower right leg amputate because the never pain had gotten so bad I was chair bound and couldn't walk a block without being in pain. Really I had pain even if I wasn't walking or standing so doing the amputation was the best thing I could have done. I am almost totally pain free now so I have no regrets about the amputation.

I got full custody of my daughter in 9/06 and have raised her on my own since then.

She has 2 1/2 more years of school left and then onto college. Once she is done with high school I hope to buy a trailer a start traveling.

tbos1958 · 12-28-2018, 07:28 AM

Thank you for your service. You have given much and deserve the break to go full time once your Daughter finishes school.

Ray,IN · 12-28-2018, 11:58 AM

Welcome home brother! I think your daughter is eligible to use your school benefits if she wants to go to college, I forget the name of the program right now. There are several sources for advice on that matter, VA, VFW, AL, county service officer, etc.

Wildman4x4 · 12-28-2018, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Welcome home brother! I think your daughter is eligible to use your school benefits if she wants to go to college, I forget the name of the program right now. There are several sources for advice on that matter, VA, VFW, AL, county service officer, etc.

Yes under Chapter 35 GI Bill she is eligible to use my benefits.
I Washington state she is also allowed to go to any state college and gets free tuition as long as there is space in the class.

USMCRET · 12-29-2018, 06:01 AM

Brother, your post exhausted me. Holy cow, that’s a lot to go thru. Very pleased to see you have your daughter!

As far as the ex...what goes around comes around. Been there.

inlineskater · 12-29-2018, 06:13 AM

thank you for your service.

Bill2 · 12-30-2018, 05:26 AM

Thank you for your service brother . Sorry about all that pain I’ve been through it for 40 years now. I’m retired US Army .

Wildman4x4 · 01-01-2019, 12:58 AM

Thanks all for the warm welcome. I am looking forward to getting to travel around this great country after protecting it for so many years.
I was a long haul truck driver for a while so I got to see a lot of the USA but didn't get to stop and look around.

**JohnRR** · 01-01-2019, 02:33 AM

Stay with it and show others how it done.

blues_sunris · 04-13-2019, 09:49 AM

Thanks Wildman … I can't imagine the pain and suffering you've been through. Glad you got your daughter... must have been a hard decision to actually go through the amputation... I retire in a couple of years and hope I bump into you... your post is inspiring for it's tone is positive after all that you've been through … Thankyou Wildman for your sacrifice and service to this great country.

Blues

Renipladlo · 05-11-2019, 11:24 PM

Thank you Wildman, beer on me, when we pass. Lived in WA for many years. Again, words don't qualify for what you have been through, appreciate everything you did for us.