Photo By Spc. Paul Harris | "As gunners we do not like to wear a lot of gear because we get stuck, but that day we...... read more read more
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by Pfc. Paul J. Harris
3rd HBCT, 4th ID PAO
BAQUBAH, Iraq (October 9, 2006) -- "You have no brain damage your temple is going to be fine. The bone inside is going to be bruised," those were the doctors words to Spc. Veren Govindeisami, water specialist, Co. B, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Lightning, as he sat in the hospital in Logistical Support Area Anaconda breathing a sigh of relief knowing he was not seriously wounded.
Govindeisami, or "Spc. GO" as his friends have nicknamed him, had just been through the hellish experience of surviving a roadside bomb. His patrol was leaving Forward Operating Base Warhorse when the bomb detonated near the left side of the Humvee.
"When we got hit our truck just went different ways. It took our truck all the way to the right, off the road," Govindeisami said.
He was a turret gunner that day, a position he had been assigned to months earlier in his home station of Fort Carson, Colo. It was very different from his main job which was fixing water pumps on vehicles. Many of the Soldiers from the Striker Brigade have been tasked to perform different jobs while in Iraq.
"At that time I had a glass shield (protecting the turret) that was cracked. The only thing I was worried about was my ammo can because it was pierced and it might cook off," he said.
Govindeisami was a bit in shock after the bomb detonated and he could not tell the extent of his wounds. When he crouched back inside cab, his sergeant told him 'you are bruised, you will be OK,' Govindeisami said. His sergeant knew he was hurt needed to get to a medical facility quickly but didn't want to traumatize Spc. GO.
With four flat tires, the vehicle made its way to FOB Normandy and Govindeisami was evacuated to LSA Anaconda.
While recuperating in the hospital doctors informed him that they were going to send him home. At first, Govindeisami thought he was going to FOB Warhorse, but a nurse corrected him, telling the former Hollis, Queens, resident that no, it meant he was going back to the U.S.
That did not sit well with Govindeisami and he decided to have Col. Brian Jones, commander, 3rd HBCT, intervene in that decision when he came to visit the Thomas Edison High School alum in the hospital.
"I said 'Sir, this is only going to be a month that I am going to be in pain for, send me back to the line, send me back to my guys' and he said OK," Govindeisami said.
For his actions on contact with the enemy Govindeisami was awarded the Combat Action Badge and Jones has recommended he receive the Purple Heart.
He did his physical therapy at FOB Warhorse and while his scars have healed, the incident still plays on his mind. Sleepless nights and nightmares plagued him during his recovery but Govindeisami knew the best way to overcome his anxiety was to get back out on the road. He pressured his command to return him to active status and six weeks from the explosion they relented.
The first patrol he was on after being reinstated drove past the site of the incident, this time he was able to handle the memories that came flooding back to him.
A few weeks later another roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle while on patrol. No one was injured during this attack and both incidences have given him a boost of confidence.
With his first deployment to Iraq winding down Govindeisami is looking forward to returning to Queens and visiting his family. His mother and father immigrated to Queens when he was 6 years old from Guyana, the small South American country that borders Venezuela. During his teens Govindeisami played for the New York City Junior Tennis League and he said he would like to return to the Queens office, hit the ball around and talk to the people about his experiences in Iraq.
"All I am going to take away is I had a chance to go out and see Iraq," Govindeisami said. "To me everyday is an adventure."
| Date Taken: | 10.09.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 10.10.2006 10:09 |
| Story ID: | 7969 |
| Location: | BAQUBAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 388 |
| Downloads: | 125 |
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