Photo By Spc. Sharla Lewis | Sgt. John Hyland, a former 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas — A former 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division soldier retired from the military, Aug. 3, at a ceremony on Cooper Field after only five years in service.
The Soldier’s journey to the ceremony was one that most have never experienced or would ever ask for.
In 2007, Sgt. John Hyland, a scout from San Antonio, Texas, was stationed with B Troop, 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment at Forward Operating Base Normandy in Muqdadiyah, Diyala province, located in east-central Iraq.
Hyland was the gunner of a vehicle that utilized a crew operated weapon. Instead of being in the gunner’s turret, Hyland was seated behind the driver of the high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle and operated the .50-caliber machine gun with a screen and joystick.
As part of a quick reaction force, Hyland’s patrol left FOB Normandy, Sept. 11, to assist a patrol that had been struck by an improvised explosive device.
Suddenly, the first vehicle in the convoy was struck by an IED of its own. The blast reverberated through the patrol and immediately the vehicles moved to surround the scene.
“The explosion was so big that I thought I got hit,” said Spc. Rolando Arce, a medic who was new to the platoon.
Arce had spent the first part of his deployment working in the FOB’s aid station, treating combat casualties from various backgrounds, which he said was easier because he didn’t know his patients. He didn’t realize who had been injured until he arrived to assist at the vehicle.
“Sergeant Hyland was screaming out in pain,” said Arce. “His leg was wedged between the driver’s seat and truck. It was hard because it was Sergeant Hyland. He was the one who took care of me when I first came to them.”
Arce, his mentor Cpl. Jonathan Rivadeneira and Sgt. 1st Class Salvador Zappata worked together to maneuver Hyland from the vehicle to a litter then to the ground between two vehicles where Arce and “Riva” (Rivadeneria) continued to work on his wounds together.
The medics stabilized Hyland and sent him in a Bradley fighting vehicle to the air-evacuation point where he was transported to the Air Force Theater Hospital at Joint Base Balad. Once there, he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for his injuries by Col. David Sutherland, the brigade commander and Capt. Hew Hiroka, the commander of Hyland’s troop.
“They came to see me off and gave me a Purple Heart,” Hyland said. “I was glad to see Hew and that he was there to support me.”
From Balad, Hyland continued his journey making stops in Germany and at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. before finally stopping at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Hyland sustained extensive pelvic and back injuries and lost his left leg below the knee because of the blast. Doctors told Hyland that he would never be able to walk on his own again.
Over the following two years, Hyland focused his energy on his recovery and reconnecting with his family.
In 2009, Hyland received a call that he had been recommended by his former brigade commander to participate in a program called “Operation Proper Exit.”
At the time, “Operation Proper Exit” was in its early stages and Hyland’s group was only the second to participate. The program, founded by the Troops First Foundation, was designed to give wounded soldiers the opportunity to see the development and progress in the areas where they were wounded since their departure. He whole-heartedly agreed, he said.
“I was nervous and excited,” Hyland said. “I was honored to be selected! It was really pretty cool.”
Hyland used the trip as an opportunity for growth and left his wheelchair in the United States, carrying out the visit on foot, a feat thought impossible only two years earlier.
Hyland and eight others spent a week touring Iraq, visiting their former units and the areas where they served in combat.
They visited FOB Normandy, the base where Hyland was stationed in 2007, where he was able to memorialize those soldiers who died. Among them was “Riva,” the second medic to treat Hyland after the explosion, who was killed Sept. 14, only three days after Hyland’s accident.
On Oct. 12, 2009 Hyland visited 6th Sqdn., 9th Cav. Regt. at Forward Operating Base Sykes where the unit was stationed. Waiting for him at the airfield were several Soldiers Hyland served with in 2007, including Arce and Zappata.
The soldiers each had vivid memories of the reunion.
“I couldn’t believe how happy and motivated he was,” said Sgt. Justin McKinney, who was part of the team that recovered Hyland’s patrol after the blast. “You can just tell how excited he was to be back and that he never stopped being a Soldier after he was injured.”
The group spent the day catching up and swapping memorable stories of their time together in 2007. They talked about “Riva” and the other soldiers who died, about their families and about the changes in the areas since his departure.
Hyland said he was impressed by the changes there.
“There’s a soccer field and a market where I got hurt and before, there was nothing there,” he said. “Everything that we did, it was all to better those people.”
Hyland returned to San Antonio after his trip and resumed his recovery at Brooke Army Medical Center until it came time for his medical retirement from the military in 2010. He was also slated to receive an Army Commendation Medal upon his discharge.
Around the same time, Command Sgt. Maj. Rory Malloy, the command sergeant major of the 1st Cavalry Division and one of the leaders who fielded Hyland’s return to Iraq, heard of the retirement and award and intercepted the plans, inviting Hyland to participate in a retirement ceremony at Fort Hood and upgrading the award to a Meritorious Service Medal.
“I knew of his story and the sacrifices that he’d made,” Malloy said. “It was my personal belief, along with the [commanding general] that we’d be cheating the Army and Sergeant Hyland if we didn’t give him the proper award. It was only fitting for a cavalry trooper to be a part of the retirement ceremony.”
The final of nine soldiers retiring in the ceremony that day, Hyland waited for the nod from the usher before moving to position.
“Sergeant John Hyland,” the narrator called.
Hyland walked across the parade field while cheers erupted from the stands where his peers watched proudly.
Arriving centered on the 1st Cavalry Division patch, Maj. Gen. Daniel Allyn clipped a Meritorious Service Medal to Hyland’s dress blue uniform, returned his salute and shook his hand.
After the ceremony, Hyland was swarmed by his friends who hadn’t seen him since his visit to Iraq.
They said he looked better than ever before.
“I couldn’t believe it was the same guy,” Arce said. “It’s almost like his injury was a blessing because he’s using it positively to support others.”
Hyland admits his journey to retirement isn’t the same as many but that his story serves more than one purpose.
“It’s a burden, but it’s a good burden,” he said. “A lot of guys go away quietly and go about their lives as a civilian. This was a goal of mine and I feel like I represent them by doing this.”
| Date Taken: | 08.03.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 08.11.2010 09:19 |
| Story ID: | 54317 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 312 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, Wounded Iraq vet retires with full Cav. honors, by SPC Sharla Lewis, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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