How an IED got me to vote. (I got blown up 5 years ago today)

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday October 17, 2008 · 11:21 AM PDT

2008/10/17 · 11:21

Five years ago today my life was changed in a major way. I was injured in Mosul, Iraq when an improvised explosive device (IED) sent shrapnel into my brain. Throughout the last five years, things could have gone one way or the other, from possibly not living through the initial blast to not ever becoming a functioning member of society. It has been a long tough fight and it has never been easy. I have fought every step of the way, sometimes fighting myself and loved ones along the way. I did survive and became not only a fully functioning member of society, but a member of society that believes that one vote can make a difference.

I was not very political before my injury and never even really voted. I was frequently deployed and never had any politicians speak to me about what I cared about. And I never thought that I could change anything by voting.

I was in Walter Reed before it became a national story. I saw the horrible treatment firsthand. I saw soldiers getting lost in the shuffle, inundated with paperwork and excuses from the military. I found myself in the same situation and I was unhappy. I vowed to myself that if I could find a way, I would make sure that it never happened again, to anyone.

Broken Skull

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday September 26, 2008 · 8:57 PM PDT

2008/09/26 · 20:57

In tonight’s debate John McCain said "I know the veterans, I know them well, and I know that they know that I'll take care of them, and I have been proud of their support and their recognition of my service to the veterans, and I love them, and I'll take care of them, and they know that I'll take care of them."

Truth be told this is not the case. McCain has a lackluster voting record when it comes to veteran’s issues and America’s veterans know it. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America have given McCain a grade of "D" when it comes to voting in their interest. The Disabled American Veterans have given McCain a 20% rating when it comes to voting in the interest of disabled veterans.

Broken Skull

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday September 09, 2008 · 4:02 PM PDT

2008/09/09 · 16:02

I respect everyone's military service, and I think that most of us feel the same way. We respect our brothers and sisters in arms, whether or not we agree with them. We all respect the service of the families left behind when a service member deploys. Although this is a different type of service, it is service none the less and should be respected. Even though I disagree with Sen. McCain's policies, I respect his service. He stood up and took the oath and went to combat, he spent 5 and a half miserable years as a prisoner of war. It is important as vets and supporter of vets to respect each other's service.

Thats not the message we are getting today from the McCain family.

This morning Meghan McCain sat down for an interview as a McCain surrogate on the today show. While making her way through an answer about her father she stated: "No one knows what war is like other than my family. Period."

Broken Skull

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday September 05, 2008 · 6:49 AM PDT

2008/09/05 · 06:49

In October of 2003 I was wounded in Iraq when the vehicle I was riding in was struck by shrapnel from an IED. After being airlifted away from the attack site I went to Baghdad for emergency brain surgery to remove shrapnel from my skull. After I was stabilized, I was sent to Germany to begin my recovery. When I was deemed recovered enough to return to the states I was flown into Andrews Air Force base and loaded on a bus to go to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington DC.

This is what Walter Reed Medical Center looks like:

Broken Skull

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday October 17, 2007 · 7:44 PM PDT

2007/10/17 · 19:44

I worte an essay about what it is like to live with PTSD. A lot of us hear things through the grapevine but I thought that it would be good to share what it is really like from a first hand perspective.

Broken Skull

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday October 10, 2007 · 7:35 AM PDT

2007/10/10 · 07:35

This is my first attempt at a diary here on Kos. Most of you know that I am the veteran who appeared in the ad that VoteVets aired denouncing Rush Limbaugh for his phony soldiers comments. I feel that it is important that people here from me and read the comments that I have received.

Think of this as a companion to Brandon’s diary.

RSS

How an IED got me to vote. (I got blown up 5 years ago today)

McCain mistates his record on Veteran issues and this vet caught him.

A wounded veteran responds to Meghan McCain's Quote.[Updatedx3]

Walter Reed or Walter Reed?(Update:McCain still Doesn't care)

The real cost of war.

Rush Supporters and their comments.