Soldier awarded Purple Heart maintains enthusiastic attitude

Photo By Capt. Amy Bishop | Gen. Richard A. Cody, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army awards Pfc. Daniel Wilson the Purple Heart for injuries sustained from an improvised explosive device in December 2005. Wilson is an infantryman in Co. C, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.  

BAYJI, IRAQ

02.16.2006

Courtesy Story

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Spc. William Jones
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

BAYJI, Iraq (February 14, 2006) - A brush with death has not curbed the enthusiasm of one young Soldier deployed to Iraq.

Private First Class Daniel Wilson is an infantryman in Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment in Fort Campbell's 3rd Brigade Combat Team. The unit is currently deployed to the northern Iraqi city of Bayji. Today he is working in the unit's tactical operations center as a radio operator, but he didn't start out there.

Wilson started out as a driver and gunner doing patrols with his fellow Rakkasans through the city outside of Forward Operating Base Summerall. Prior to the December election, all of his missions had taken place without incident.

Wilson and his platoon were traveling off of the main road on Election Day when his up-armored humvee hit a landmine buried on top of a propane tank.

"We were in the second vehicle driving back to the FOB," said Wilson. "I remember laughing at somethingâ?¦ and then I felt my body moving through the air. The next thing I knew I was lying on the ground about fifteen feet away from the truck."

Specialist Tim Ramirez was in the lead vehicle and saw the explosion. "There was a flashâ?¦ the truck lifted up off of the ground. I got out of my truck and I saw Wilson lying on the ground. I thought he was dead."

Dazed for a moment, Wilson stood up and ran back to the humvee to check on his buddies. "There was no one in there. I heard Sgt. Black, my NCOIC, yelling. He had hurt his legs and I helped carry him to the medics."

Wilson was flown to an Army hospital in Tikrit for five days because of an unusual cut on his right elbow. The incident in December has not curbed his motivation or enthusiasm. He still looks forward to each mission that takes him "outside the wire" and into the city.

"I still go out on patrols, but they don't want to risk me getting hurt again. That's why I'm here operating the radio."

General Richard A. Cody, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, awarded Wilson the Purple Heart on February 13, 2006 during a visit to Forward Operating Base Summerall.

Wilson turned 21 during his mid-tour leave and has been in the Army since he graduated Cherokee High School, in Canton, Georgia in 2004. He will be promoted to specialist in March.

He plans to return to his hometown of Canton when he is discharged from active duty to attend college in hopes of becoming a police officer.

Georgia may have to wait a few years before this decorated young Soldier enters its police force. He will have a lot of stories to tell when he gets there, but right now he continues on with his duties, proud to be an American Soldier.

• Date Taken: 02.16.2006
• Date Posted: 02.16.2006 10:32
• Story ID: 5404
• Location: BAYJI, IQ