BAGHDAD, IRAQ – Sgt. Noah Galloway grew up with military service members all around him. So when the events of September 11th took place he quit his job, took a break from school and signed up to be an infantryman in the Army.
"I didn't know where we were going to go at that time," said Galloway. "But I knew I wanted to be part of it. After that first deployment I had fallen in love and I never imagined I'd do anything else."
He first deployed with the 101st Airborne Division in 2003 to Baghdad and Mosul. Galloway then deployed a second time with the 'Screaming Eagles' in 2005, where he lost his left arm and left leg from the blast of a roadside bomb in Yusufiyah, Iraq.
He returned to Iraq with eight other wounded service members through a program called Operation Proper Exit, funded by the nonprofit organization Troops First Foundation. This trip can mean closure and a chance to see how Iraq has changed since the last time they were here. They spend a week visiting bases and areas where they were injured.
"Putting the uniform on for the first time since I was injured meant a lot," said Galloway, who participated in Operation Proper Exit VI May 9 to May 15. "I feel like something positive's got to come out of this."
After being medically evacuated to the United States after his injury, Galloway had the support of his family and friends during his recovery period. But there was one family member in particular that shared a special connection with him.
"I have an uncle who served in Vietnam and was severely injured," said Galloway. "He didn't lose any limbs but he suffered a lot of internal damage. And when I got injured he would drive up from Birmingham to DC every weekend to sit with me and we've become really close."
When Galloway was able to leave the hospital, his uncle, Johnny Kelso, got him involved in activities to keep him moving and mentored him on how to cope with his injuries and not look at them as a hindrance.
"When I told him about going to Iraq he was very excited," Galloway said. "He asked if he could come along with me, but of course he couldn't. He understands what this means to me."
"I sacrificed two limbs, but more importantly, a lot of my friends gave more than that. And to see they were not killed in vain, that we made a difference, that's huge," he added.
Since Galloway is no longer in the military, he decided to pursue another career that is prominent in his family.
"There are a lot of teachers in my family as well," said Galloway. "I wasn't the best student in school and I feel like I will be able to relate to a lot of other kids that may struggle the way I did. And if I can just reach out and help them, nothing in the world would be better."
Galloway plans to earn his degree and teach at a high school in his hometown of Birmingham, Ala., and Kelso couldn't be more proud of him.
"My uncle thinks it is a great idea that I teach," said Galloway.
"Being a veteran, he is very aware of the dangers of an idle mind, and teaching is an ever evolving profession," he added.
| Date Taken: |
05.15.2010 |
| Date Posted: |
05.24.2010 11:28 |
| Story ID: |
50178 |
| Location: |
CAMP VICTORY, IQ |
| Web Views: |
130 |
| Downloads: |
101 |
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This work, Veteran returns to Iraq for closure during OPE VI, by SGT Rebekah Lampman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
