SOLDIER LOOSES FOOT IN IRAQ, RETURNS FOR 2ND TOUR

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

04.13.2005

Courtesy Story

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Pfc. Matthew Clifton
MNC-I Public Affairs Office
April 4, 2005

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq " An Army Captain who lost his lower right ankle and foot while deployed during the initial stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom has returned to Iraq for a second tour.

Cpt. David M. Rozelle, commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo., is the first amputee to return to a combat zone.

"When I deployed for the first time, I was the K Troop commander for 3rd ACR, and my area of operation was around Hit, Iraq," Rozelle said. "While conducting an operation, I ran over an anti-tank mine with my Humvee.

The mine destroyed both my Humvee and my right lower leg, causing the amputation of my foot and ankle.

"I was immediately evacuated to a combat support hospital outside of Baghdad," Rozelle said. "From there I was flown to Qatar, then to Germany where I received a couple of operations before being taken to Walter Reed Army Medical Facility in Washington D.C., where I stayed for about three weeks."

"The first reaction from my family and friends upon hearing about my injury was shock and horror," Rozelle said. "They said to me, "This is something Dave can handle. Let's give him some time and see what he does.""

There was, however, a silver lining, Rozelle said. After three weeks at Walter Reed, he was rushed home to be present for the birth of his son, Forrest.

"If this accident wouldn't have happened, I would not have seen my son until he was nine months old, so I guess it was really a blessing in disguise," Rozelle said.

"My family and friends knew I would not give up, and that's when I charged head-on into my recovery," Rozelle said.

"Like anyone who is injured in a war, an amputee has to come back and prove to the Army medical system they are fit to fight," Rozelle said. "You have to be able to pass an Army Physical Fitness Test, and basically you are re-entering the service."

Officer evaluation reports, letters of recommendation from a soldier's chain of command and job performance are accounted for, Rozelle said. Potential to continue, lead and serve in a Military Occupational Specialty are evaluated, along with the obvious medical considerations when being qualified as "fit for duty."

Rozelle received word through his chain of command that if he could recover from his injury, another position waited for him with the 3rd ACR, he said. His first goal was to be declared fit for duty when the regiment returned to take command again.

Great leadership was displayed on behalf of the command to give him that incentive, Rozelle said. Nine months after the injury he was found fit for duty.

"I had many different job opportunities within the Army that would have taken me away and given me a lighter duty for a period of time, but I turned them all down," Rozelle said. "I wanted to come back to Iraq and serve with my regiment."

Just like his Soldiers, his friends and family thought he was crazy since he had the opportunity to leave, Rozelle said. "I could have retired as a captain and had a pretty good retirement."

"I never really thought about retirement," Rozelle said. "When I took the Oath of Office, I knew I was going to spend my life in the military."

"The troops I commanded in the beginning of the war are very proud of me," Rozelle said. "They come to check on me all of the time to make sure I am doing okay.

It is a good feeling to hear your troops say how much they miss you after two years."
"I have an enormous amount of respect for the Captain's decision to come back to Iraq," said Pfc. Joshua Cartee, driver, 3rd ACR. "He is a good commander and leads by example"
Rozelle said.

"I used to be in charge of 22 tanks, but I have been promoted in job title and took command of the regimental commander's headquarters on June 17, 2004."

Obviously it is a different kind of job, Rozelle said. He said he won't be clearing too many houses, but he still has the responsibility to train his soldiers on how to fight and do all of the things required of them in the Army.

"I will keep this command until June, at which time I will return to Walter Reed to become a program manager for the new amputee center there," Rozelle said. "I will take the knowledge of what is required to return to theater back with me to Walter Reed," Rozelle said.

"The Armed Services are going to get used to seeing guys with mechanical parts, because there are many others who want to continue to serve after suffering a serious injury."

"It will be a different kind of command, but it will still be a command," Rozelle said. "I am showing the Army an amputee can return and be useful in a combat environment.

I am showing other amputees who want to come back it can be done."

His main focus at the amputee center will be to help the Army in making decisions on programs that will allow Soldiers to continue service after injury, Rozelle said.
"We will also help Soldiers make the transition into civilian life if their injury is too serious to return to service.

There are a lot of Soldiers counting on me to give them the right advice," Rozelle said. "This new program will be opening with the amputee center at the end of October."

"I want Soldiers in a similar situation as mine to know the only way to recover from a major injury or surgery is to take the physical therapy very seriously and never give up," Rozelle said. "Meet your goals. The therapy is continuous and will be something you do every day to stay fit for your prosthetic device."

He doesn't see these injuries any differently than someone who might have a bad knee or back and has to go through rehabilitation, Rozelle said. It is necessary to be conscious about the injury; to be prepared.

"I can run, jump or walk on my leg, but obviously just not as fast as I use to," Rozelle said. "I pass the normal APFT, so I think that speaks for itself."

Rozelle asks people not to feel sorry for him or others in his situation. They are not quitters and give just as much if not more than anyone else in the Army, and that is commitment, he added.

Since his injury, Rozelle has written the book, Back In Action: An American Soldier's Story of Courage, Faith and Fortitude, as well as completing the New York Marathon.

• Date Taken: 04.13.2005
• Date Posted: 04.13.2005 09:52
• Story ID: 1579
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ