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Photo Credit: Courtesy PhotoLt. Col. Michael Katona, commander of 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, visits squadron Soldier Pfc. Kyle Hockenberry during a visit to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Katona and his fellow
A U.S. soldier who lost both legs and an arm from an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Afghanistan wants to stay on active duty, if the military will have him, according to a report on the Army website.
Pfc. Kyle Hockenberry, 19, nearly lost his life in the June 2011 blast in Haji Ramuddin that killed Pfc. Nick Hensley.
“I received a phone call at work on June 15 and the caller said Kyle had been seriously wounded in Afghanistan and that we would get another call later with more information," his father, Chet Hockenberry told an Army public affairs reporter. "Every call, they kept telling us that they were right by his side doing everything they could for him. They were dedicated 100 percent to getting him home to us and we are very appreciative of what everyone did for Kyle."
After he stabilized, Kyle Hockenberry was transported to the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where he is being fitted for prosthetic limbs and recuperating.
He hopes to be well enough to attend a welcome home ball with his unit at Fort Riley, Kan., in April.
"If everything is good, I plan to be there," he said.
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Hooah! God bless.
Hate stories like these, what a shame. Bring 'em home!
If he wants to stay in the military, let him. Obviously there will be certain things he can't do now but there should still be plenty of things that he can.
If he wants to stay they should let him. There are many roles that disabled soldiers can still perform and he should be allowed to fill on of them if he wants. He honored the commitment he made to the military and they should honor their commitment to him. I was in the NRMC in Jax a long time ago and had a roommate who was injured in a helicopter crash during a training mission. The military actually had the nerve to try and get him to sign voluntary separation papers in order to try and avoid having to pay for all his medical bills and rehab. Sometimes the way our military treats those who suffer major injuries on duty is abominable. These people lost part of themselves serving their country and all they get in return is a push towards to exit. Every attempt should be made to find fulfilling roles for those in the military who suffer these types of life changing injuries but still wish to remain in he service.
This Dude got more heart than any civil that didn't serve at all. I know he's Army but Semper Fi anyway. I hope he makes a speedy recovery, and that they let him serve his country.
It is always sad to hear of the loss and sacrifice our troops have to go thru.
If the military don't want him and he still wants to serve I say he should run for a public office.
with the heart he has I'd give a listen to what he gotta say.
I really don't see how he can remain on the battlefield without some sort of powered exoskeleton, but he could definitely be given a desk job. It's sad to see people disabled in such ways.
What a great guy! There has to be a way for him to continue making the most of his training and willpower.
As an Ex-Marine, I say let him stay! There are plenty of MOS's I am sure he can fill and be productive. Oh, Thank you too for your continued service!
Not so sure he can carry on as an infantryman, but perhaps he can become a recruiter?
Teach him to fly drones maybe?
As a man period if this man wants to continue to be in the military let him!!! Just pray for him and appreciate his service to our country ladies and gentlemen.
That is pretty bad Patriot.
There are plenty of things he could do in the military. Not every job in on the front lines. Send him to school to get some skills and put him in some office job stateside.
Thanks to all for their service.
Sorry Jim, I was being serious. Recruiting is a special duty assignment in the military and it would be good for kids to see what they are possibly signing up for. I served in the infantry myself and understand his will to return to his unit, platoon and squad, but he may not be able to hack it anymore. Re-class, retrain, etc. if he wants to stay in...though with the coming downsizing of the Army, they may not want him anymore.
Sounds like Starship Troopers, where recruiters for Federal Service were often amputees who put their prosthetics on at the end of the day and lived normal lives (or attempted to, but it was outside the scope of the book).
Actually, the book did have a part in it about the disabled recruiter/trooper.
Don't blame him one bit. He probably looks at our anemic/pathetic economy here at home and is making a smart career decision. Carry on soldier!
I personally don't see any reason why he couldn't serve in most any capacity - including battlefield. I think the Military needs to get away from the thought process that an injured soldier is of less value or not fit for duty. Many of these young men and women can return to full capacity with therapy and adequate healing time - so if they want it, let them stay.
There's no reason to turn away soldiers who want to continue to earn their keep, or maybe move up the chain of command. The army is more than front-line work, and in a decade or so we may see medical advances that allow a triple amputee to contribute almost as well as their unharmed counterparts.
From an actuary standpoint, it means putting a soldier to work that would otherwise collect partial disability, and keeping such men in the service promotes their mental wellbeing, defers disability payments that have no reciprocal deliverable to the armed services and portrays a positive message that while military service is dangerous, that people can continue to live reasonably normal/healthy lives, in contrast to the "Old Days" when wartime amputees where shunned and feared and only found refuge in alcoholism.
Spent 42 years in the Army and this young solider should be given the opportunity to serve. We owe him the opportunity...
I'll bet he could pilot a drone with the training. Then he can blast the crap outa things.
ATTENTION..Hand Salute for Pfc. Kyle Hockenberry, if there is a will, which he seems to have, and there is a way then the United States Military should find a spot for him.
Here on Staten Island we have [ had now 3 ] the first quad amputee survivor...a home was specificall buyilt for our home town hero...
As a retired veteran I salute him for his gallantry and willingness to soldier on! And also as a retired veteran, I thank him for his service and sacrifice.
I think they ought to let him continue serving if that is his desire. Lots of waivers to various requirements obviously to be dealt with such as meeting any requirements for physical activity on a regular basis (such as running a mile or 10 within a specified time), but those are do-able.
Let him stay. There are other things for him to do in the Army. There is always desk work of some kind if nothing else.
Also, I don't want to be cynical, but he has a much better chance at a job and healthcare than he's going to have as a civilian.
Bless him for his service.
Go Army! What a fine example of dedication and service to our nation. This young man does his family and country proud. Let him serve.
It may set a precedent when the Military Industrial Complex invades China and needs manpower through a draft. Bye Bye deferments if a double amputee can serve. No longer will a Senator's son be exempt for high blood pressure.
Let him - he is a grown up capable of making his own decisions. I am sure they can find a job suitable for him in the military. Thanks for your service.
Now that's a tough guy right there. I wish we hadn't wasted his limbs on a useless war.
Bring them home, now.
I know this will be unpopular but I think the country should be defended by able-bodied personnel. Fix him up and retrain him definitely, but he has no place in the military with his current skill set.
What makes you thinks he has no place in the military?
He has no place in forward combat roles such as the infantry, artillery, truck driver ect. that requires the use of arms and legs. There are many jobs in the military that would be perfect for him.
96Bravo, All-source intel analyst. He has a sharp mind and some experience. All soldiers in all roles are part of "defending the country".
The soldier is to be admired for his courage and perserverance, but he has no place in the active military for the simple reason that there are standards that must be met by all on active-duty, and standards for soldiers have been so watered down already that allowing triple amputees to fill a slot in a schrinking active-force does nothing but weaken the combat readiness of the military and put the nation ar risk. Are many of you so naieve to think that Iraq and Afganistan will be the end of all wars? Dream on, history paints a different picture. ALL wars produce amuputees and seriously injured, but common sense must always prevail over emotions when the safety and military preparedness of the nation is at stake. Now before many of you start foaming at he mouth, I served in every shooting engagement this nation has had from 1968 to 2005 on active-duty, including 4 combat tours in Vietnam, and I have seen more than my fair share of shattered young men and women. I am not callous or unfeeling, and I have earned my right to express my views perhaps more than many of you that are so quick to judge; I am 100% combat disabled. At the most, I would let him serve the remainder of his enlistment, and THEN make sure that the VA doesn't screw him over upon medical retirement, which, at a minimum, will far exceed the income that he has now. Admiration-YES, accomodation-NO.
Go JP, you rock Buddy!
I Know that they can find something for this young man to do in the military.
He can be placed into the UAV (Unmanned Drone Program) where he can be trained to fly the UAV which does not require legs but would require him to have a prosthetic arm.
A few years ago a wounded soldier like this would never have thought about asking to stay in the military after a devastating attack like the one he went though. But with alot of technical jobs in the military requiring the servicemember to sit down to do their job I don't see why he couldn't be trained to do a desk job either.
Hell he could even sit at a desk watching a CCTV monitor on the border between Mexico and America alerting local authorities to the breach.
Better than throwing him away to the streets and despair of being a wounded veteran.
I think Pfc. Hockenberry gave quite a bit more for our country than most, and frankly, he should stay home now and pursue other interests. There are Military physical standards, which require only healthy able bodied men serve in our miltiary. If medical can give him a waiver that would be fine. He is one American we shall never forget for his sacrafice, courage, and valor. Thank you, my friend, for your service, and for keeping us free. I salute you! -- Ed Hartwell, JO1, USN(Ret.)
Uh, just an FYI, Ed, women serve in the military too. I don't know when you retired, but women have been serving for many, many years.
God Bless this young man, and for still having the heart to serve is all I will say !!
Maybe the price he paid should be sent to every war hungry politician in this country including the former President and his cronies that sent our great country to war for no reason. I certainly hope that the government will financially support this young soldier all the days of his life.
dwighthuth wrote "Better than throwing him away to the streets and despair of being a wounded veteran"........ Thats a truth that we forget everyday. We send our young men and women to war and they pay prices like this while the politicians children are going to Ivy league schools and dont you dare ask them to contribute. The Whole Washington Chickenhawk Warmachine makes me sick !!! Bush and Cheney should be rotting in a Jail Cell.