Posted on 02/01/2006 4:48:55 PM PST by SandRat
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 1, 2006) –“Our men and women in uniform are making sacrifices,” said President George W. Bush during his State of the Union address Jan. 31, and listening intently from the balcony with First Lady Laura Bush was wounded-in-action Soldier Sgt. Wasim Khan
Khan, a native of Gilgat, Pakistan, is a patient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Khan was wounded in Iraq while serving with the 1st Armored Division. He was a special guest at the State of the Union, nominated to attend by the secretary of the Army.
“I got to meet both President Bush and Mrs. Bush after the Address,” said Khan. “They thanked me for my service and for coming and I told them it was an honor and a privilege to see them.”
Kahn said he used to watch this annual speech on TV, but this time he was personally there, and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for him.
“I got to see senators and congressmen who had visited me and other troops at Walter Reed and it gave me the chance to thank them personally for showing their support for the troops,” said Khan.
“It was wonderful to see how the American people support us, and keep up that support,” he said. “I hope they keep doing what they think is right for the country and right for the world. We have a lot of work ahead of us.”
A journey begins
After completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics and Math from Islamabad College for Boys, 21 year-old Khan immigrated to the U.S. in 1997. Not long after his arrival, he took advantage of an opportunity that was a lifetime in the making.
“As a kid growing up, I always wanted to join the Army,” said Khan. “I liked the way the Army conducted its business, most of the time being on the ground, fighting face to face. It was my wish to become an Army Soldier.”
Khan attended Basic Training in Fort Sill, Okla., in 1998. His first duty station was at Fort Campbell, Ky. He went on to Giessen, Germany and was assigned to the a Field Artillery battalion under the 1st Armored Division. While deployed with his unit to Iraq, he was wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade attack in June 2003.
Since arriving to Walter Reed, Khan has undergone more than 20 surgeries to repair wounds from the RPG attack which nearly took his life.
Holding the course
“The doctors, the civilian staff and the people at Walter Reed have been most supportive to me, said Khan. “I’ve been through a lot of surgeries because I have many shrapnel wounds. Most of my right leg was severely injured, and my right femur was totally broken.”
During nearly three years of rehabilitation at WRMC, Khan achieved U.S. citizenship as part of the U.S. military’s time-in-service benefit in September 2003. On April 19, 2005, he was honored with the Medallion of Honor for his courage and sacrifices at the 2005 American Veterans Disabled for Life Awards Gala, held in New York City.
Kahn will have one more surgery during March, 2006, and is optimistic about his rehabilitation and recovery.
“I think it will be my last surgery and hopefully I will get released 60-70 percent recovered,” said Khan. “Things my father told me while growing up really helped me a lot to get through the rehabilitation time. My father always told me ‘never quit’ and ‘be the best’ and you’ll have ups and downs in life but just keep moving forward and do good things and be remembered for the good things you did.”
Brave new American PING!!!
If we get great people like him, can we give them some people in exchange ?
WAIT A MINUTE! Didn't anyone ever tell him he's supposed to hate us infidels? Could it be that some Freepers are wrong?
BTTT
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