Courtesy Photo | Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Schloesser, Regional Command-East and coalition forces...... read more read more
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By Army Capt. Elizabeth Casebeer
Task Force Cincinnatus Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Army Pvt. Joseph Miner graduated Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Ga., shortly before Christmas 2007 and reported to his Guam Army National Guard Unit, Alpha Company, 1-294th Infantry, which was scheduled to deploy here to Afghanistan shortly thereafter.
After pre-deployment training at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, the 22-year-old infantryman deployed February 2008.
Miner, who is stationed at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, was manning an M-240 machine gun in the turret of a security vehicle. He was supporting a six-day combat patrol escorting "Lowboys," flat trailers often used to move heavy equipment like Humvees and tanks from place to place.
Late on the second day, Apr. 14, Miner's team was setting up lookout towers and bedding down for the night when they heard a report on the radio of a jingle truck receiving small-arms fire. Jingle trucks are large trucks brightly painted with scenes from the Koran and Afghan or Islamic culture and often decorated with bells.
Miner's unit rolled out to investigate the incident. Reportedly, several insurgents had attempted to hijack the jingle truck and failed.
According to other reports, about twelve suspected Taliban were involved in the attempted hijacking and subsequent shooting. Two were shot by coalition Soldiers and Afghan national police.
The two injured insurgents ran away from the scene, while the remaining attackers hopped onto motorcycles and sped away. Coalition forces and the ANP followed the motorcycle tracks off the hardball road into a small bizarre.
Upon arriving at the Bizarre, the Soldiers and ANP began to receive fire from an unidentified location. The ANP quickly spotted the insurgents and fired rocket propelled grenades at their location.
That's when Miner felt what he described as a sharp punch in his rib that stung a little but didn't really hurt all that much.
"I immediately ducked into my turret and told the driver I'd been shot," Miner said.
The driver, who was a little shaken, immediately contacted their home unit over the radio.
"They all continued to fight back and the squad leader made a decision to get his guys out of the kill zone due to overwhelming fires from the enemy," said Army Capt. David P. Santos Jr., Alpha Company commander.
"In my vehicle, there was myself, the gunner; the driver, Spc. Gary Santos; the TC; and my NCO, Sgt. Dell Alvarez, who held pressure to the wound to prevent further bleeding," said Miner, who said he expected to feel certain symptoms he'd learned often occurred to gunshot wound victims. "I wasn't dozing off, and I wasn't coughing up blood, so I knew it would be okay."
According to Santos, the team conducted a short halt to check on Miner.
"At that time, they again began to receive small-arms fire and they fought their way out of it again and continue to the FOB," Santos said.
While returning to FOB Ghazni, the humvee Miner was riding in became overheated and the team had to switch vehicles, yet Miner didn't panic.
"Being with my fellow Soldiers, I wasn't worried; I knew everything was going to be alright," said Miner.
Santos agreed. "If they didn't react the way they did, Pvt. Miner's situation could have been worst then it is today," he said.
The round had traveled through Miner's right arm, exited out his tricep, and lodged itself near his ribcage.
"Miner's equipment, especially the DAPS, was key in slowing the bullet down
[and] from penetrating through Pvt. Miner," said Santos. "The Army gives us a lot of equipment to protect us from enemy fire, and many times it is uncomfortable but it does its job."
DAPS or Deltoid and Axillary Protectors, are an added component to the Interceptor Body Armor that provides additional protection from fragments and projectiles to the upper arm and underarm areas.
"All my Soldiers understand the importance of the equipment we have been issued with and we will not trade Soldier comfort for Soldier safety," said Santos. "My only advice on this is to wear it all because it will save your life."
Miner will retain the round near his ribs until it works its way closer to the surface. Doctors said it was too risky to attempt to remove it, and this is a common course of action with gunshot wound victims. It is unclear how long it will take for the round to surface, but Miner is not worried. He's more worried about when he will return to duty.
"Private Miner is a very quiet and hard working Soldier," said Santos. "He does not complain about anything you ask him to do and is extremely dedicated to his fellow Soldiers and his job."
Miner received a Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman Badge Apr. 15 for his actions the evening before.
| Date Taken: | 04.21.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 04.22.2008 10:26 |
| Story ID: | 18642 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 171 |
| Downloads: | 51 |
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