Photo By Staff Sgt. Zachary Mott | Sgt. Daryl Williams, a Long Island, Va., native, sits in his hospital bed at the 86th...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Zach Mott
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE CALLAHAN, Iraq – Sgt. Daryl Williams is known by the members of his platoon to have a keen eye for detail and a love of all things Army.
Williams, a sniper with the Scout/Sniper Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, was injured during a patrol in northern Baghdad, July 8.
After he spotted two improvised explosive devices, the Long Island, Va., native alerted the other members of his patrol. After those IEDs detonated without injury, Williams exited his vehicle to provide security for the accompanying explosive ordnance disposal team. Within moments, and after directing Pfc. Raymond Riley to remain in the vehicle, another explosion penetrated the afternoon calm. An antipersonnel mine detonated within 30 feet of Williams. The shrapnel from the blast hit him in both arms, his leg, face and neck.
Within seconds, Sgt. James Spraggins said, Williams was loaded into a military vehicle and raced toward nearby Forward Operating Base Callahan.
"Before our medic could even get to him, (Quick Reaction Force) grabbed him and were on their way back to Callahan," said the Mentor, Ohio, native who serves alongside Williams in the Scout/Sniper Platoon.
Another Soldier was also hit with shrapnel in the explosion. His injuries were to the hand and hip.
Following that quick evacuation, Williams was then flown to the 86th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad to further treat his wounds. When he awoke, July 9, in his hospital bed, the first thing he said was that he wanted to re-enlist.
Williams' platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Lanny McLaughlin, a Nogales, Ariz., native, worked with HHC Commander Capt. Enardo Collazo, a Salinas, Puerto Rico, native, and Staff Sgt. Derek Eurales, a Chicago native and career counselor for 1st CAB, 68th AR, to get the paperwork in order and organize a patrol to see Williams at the hospital.
Williams, who has been married for the past four years to his wife Sheila with whom he has a 2-year-old daughter named Parisa, re-enlisted for six years, a bonus and to remain at his current duty station of Fort Carson, Colo.
"He's an outstanding sniper who really loves his job and is a really good leader," McLaughlin said.
Other members of the platoon were not at all surprised that the three-tour veteran wanted to re-enlist and remain with his unit following his recovery. Williams has served with the Silver Lions Battalion in each of its three Operation Iraqi Freedom deployments.
"He's very dedicated; his troops come first," said Spc. Samuel Hyer, an Atwater, Calif., native, who serves with Williams in the Scout/Sniper Platoon. "Before he got hit, he told his Soldier to get back in the vehicle. He probably saved his life."
That Soldier, Pfc. Raymond Ramsey, said the impact of Williams' actions has yet to fully sink in.
"It'll probably hit me later," the Des Moines, Iowa, native said.
Williams is currently receiving medical care at Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson where he is expected to make a full recovery.
"We're all glad he's doing well," Hyer said, echoing the sentiments for the entire platoon. "We can't wait to see him when we get home."
| Date Taken: | 07.12.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 07.13.2008 10:55 |
| Story ID: | 21437 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 364 |
| Downloads: | 149 |
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