I did a PGR mission today that was very interesting and very emotional.
First, our hero:
SGT Brian Christopher Jergens, 22, was one of three soldiers riding in a Humvee on Aug. 7 when the vehicle struck a roadside bomb.
Jergens, an Army medic, was the most seriously injured of the three, having lost his legs below the knee, among other grievous injuries.
His life hung in the balance for days.
He was flown to an Army hospital in Germany, where he was stabilized until he could be flown to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where he is now undergoing treatment.
Over the ensuing weeks, doctors worked to control swelling in his brain and prevent infections from setting in. His spleen was removed while doctors tended to other abdominal injuries.
Jergens also suffered a cracked vertebra, a broken arm and the loss of his ring finger on his left hand.
Just days ago, Jergens opened his eyes for the first time, much to the joy of his newlywed bride, Jennifer, his sister, Darcy, and his parents, Brian and Marilyn Jergens, who have been at his bedside since his arrival at San Antonio.
"He hasn't been able to talk yet, but his dad has said a few words to him and he has followed him with his eyes,"
His wife Jennifer has been by his side throughout and has been feeding him ice chips and has commented that he's very aware of his surroundings and has shown tremendous improvement in the past month.
On to the mission.
Christopher was supposed to arrive at Moffett Field at 230 and I was one of 4 road guards who will block intersections along the way. When we arrived at 2, we found out that he was delayed and would not arrive to 4 at the earliest. We hung around Flight Ops and waited. While there, we found out that the reason for the delay was that Christopher was having serious medical issues this morning. They flew him and his wife from Kelly AFB to Moffet on a C-17 hospital ship with a full staff of doctors, etc. Once he arrived, we did our flag presentation, etc, while they took him off of the plane and loaded him into the ambulance.
When we got ready to start, the ambulance pulls up and tells the road guards that Christopher isn't doing well and having issues so it will be lights and sirens the whole way. The driver then asked us if we could clear a path and block intersections since it was rush hour and they needed to get Christopher to the Trauma Center ASAP. After a wild and stressful ride moving cars out of the way and pissing people off in major intersections, Christopher arrived at the hospital safe and alive.
During our post-mission debrief, the family came out to us in tears thanking us for doing what we do. It was an amazing and inspirational moment that makes all of the risks, etc, worthwhile.
Well, on to the next mission
The United States, Home of the Free Because of the Brave!!!
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Topic: Tough Patriot Guard Mission Today - Update (Read 4920 times)