Interview with Sgt. Corey Garmon, United States Army (medically retired)
"My life has been far from an average 25 year old Alabama boy; most of the people my age have already received their degree or found a career. For me, on the other hand, my life is just beginning. I have had ups and downs all my life, but many challenges have yet to come. A lot has happened since that murky afternoon in Afghanistan.
In March of 2011, I left for basic training in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Leaving my family was very tough, but I knew I was making the right decision. With all the ups and downs of basic training the unit was going through; I seemed to always be able to motivate my unit. When the drill sergeants were breathing down our necks, I always brought the platoon together. I graduated as a scout on July 11, 2011. I was able to spend an awesome but way too short, vacation with my family and then I reported to duty at Fort Lewis, Washington. This is where I met my great friend, Thomas Erhard. When we first met, we didn't really care for each other. He was from Oregon, and I from Alabama; although I am from Alabama I am a rare fan of the Florida Gators, so we did not see eye to eye when it came to college football. A couple of days before shipping off to Afghanistan, we watched a video of a soldier getting hit by an IED (improvised explosive device). My first thought was, "we’re not ready for this".
On July 11, 2012, our platoon had to relieve 3rd platoon, who had been hit hard by an IED attack to the east of us. So we set out on a patrol. After we arrived to complete the transfer, we found out they did not have enough water, so we pitched in and halved our available water with them. With the 125 degree heat, that left me with two bottles of water. Once we entered the town, our mission was to go look for a dead insurgent that had been killed by helicopter fire right before we got there. With every step we took in the town, we were finding IED after IED and it was very dangerous. As we got closer to the location of the body, we received intel of a complex ambush, which would include indirect fire from either IEDs or RPG’s (Rocket propelled grenades), followed by direct small arms fire. We stopped in a pretty secure location about 800 meters from the entrance of a town.
An Afghan National Army platoon was performing searches from hut to hut. As our light machine guns covered both avenues of approach, the rest of our squad spread out in the area. I was the radio transmission operator (RTO), and stayed with the interpreter and continually relayed intel to my platoon sergeant. This is when I walked up and pointed out the IED that had hit 3rd platoon. I also noticed a red rag hanging over a wall about chest high. Directly across from that was a small bridge about three feet wide and five feet long. On the bridge were four rocks in a straight line. We noticed in past missions that this was a way for the Taliban to warn villagers to stay away. With that, we knew there was a possibility of an IED in the area, and knowing this information just a couple of feet away, we saw where an IED did go off. So our mine detector specialist started to scan the area and scanned well, but did not find anything and gave the all clear sign. At that time we heard radio chatter saying, "We are in position, ready to ambush". I went and told my Platoon Sergeant, that they were about to hit us. That’s when I went to the wall for cover and put my weapon on top.
The Blackout
The next thing I knew, I was on the ground with dirt in my eyes and dust all around me yelling "I’m hit, I’m hit". I could hear AK-47 rounds going off and that's when I returned fire along with the light machine gunner to my left. He was laying down a massive amount of rounds, but the AK shots continued. That's when I looked at my rifle and noticed my barrel in the shape of a banana. My flashlight, laser, and vertical grip were gone. Luckily my M-4 had shielded the blast and protected my right arm, as I was trying to rub all the dust and debris from my eyes, Thomas got to me and the first thing he said was, “you’re all right man, Roll Tide!" I said," No man, Go Gators!" He helped me strip all of my gear off and that’s when I looked down and noticed that I had lost my left foot, right above the ankle and my right leg had been severely fractured, middle way up with my shin turning in a forty-five degree angle.
Right after Thomas pushed my head down so I wouldn't go into shock at the sight of my injuries, I kept asking for water. This was a sign of shock. I had already drank my two bottles, so Thomas gave me his, but that never seemed to be enough. My medic finally got to me, and was able to administer a dose of morphine. SPC Fig and SGT Siniard, who were right beside me when the IED exploded, sustained injuries also; SPC Fig was injured to the point of temporary loss of consciousness, due to the percussion received from the blast. When the shooting finally stopped, we were able to call in the helicopter to have me airlifted. They strapped me to a sled and we waited. Fifty-five minutes later the helicopter finally arrived, but all I could think of during my wait, was my girlfriend Megan and my family. I surprised myself by staying conscious and I was even able to give Thomas, Megan's phone number, so he could tell her what exactly had happened. SPC Fig and I got onto the helicopter to go to the hospital. I kept asking the medic aboard for water but he wouldn't give me any. When we landed and the doors flew open I saw a dozen soldiers there to help me off-board. That is when I blacked out.
I woke up four days later, fighting off doctors and nurses, thinking I was still in a fighting circumstance. With my left leg amputated and my left arm bandaged up tight, it all started to sink in. Luckily my family was there with me and of course, my beautiful best friend, Megan, who surrounded me with hope and care. I stayed in the hospital until late September of 2012, then moving into the Wounded Warrior apartments in October. After my initial care, my lifelong permanent injuries include both legs, below the knees, are amputated; my left arm was damaged to the point of only 30% use of my left hand, along with my left little finger removed; moderate damage to my left eye; diagnosed with moderate traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder.
That experience was truly amazing and with all the struggles I have endured, from deployment to injury through recovery, I have realized why I did it; because of this great nation we live in. Even though there are people that disagree with what I do as a soldier, I gave them that freedom to disagree. Things are a lot easier now because of the great staff that performed my occupational and physical therapy, to include the doctors and nurses who work here at Walter Reed hospital. Since my homecoming in November, I am able to walk without a cane and will soon be running.
Just this past February I married my best friend and soul mate Megan Forrester and we are expecting our first child, Kyleigh Nicole Garmon, in September of 2013. I have been through a lot of mountains and valleys in my life time, but there is nothing I can’t overcome. With the experiences I’ve been through, along with the support of my loved ones, there is nothing in life that can keep me down. I am going to stand up and walk right through it."
- Sgt. Corey Garmon, United States Army
"My life has been far from an average 25 year old Alabama boy; most of the people my age have already received their degree or found a career. For me, on the other hand, my life is just beginning. I have had ups and downs all my life, but many challenges have yet to come. A lot has happened since that murky afternoon in Afghanistan.
In March of 2011, I left for basic training in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Leaving my family was very tough, but I knew I was making the right decision. With all the ups and downs of basic training the unit was going through; I seemed to always be able to motivate my unit. When the drill sergeants were breathing down our necks, I always brought the platoon together. I graduated as a scout on July 11, 2011. I was able to spend an awesome but way too short, vacation with my family and then I reported to duty at Fort Lewis, Washington. This is where I met my great friend, Thomas Erhard. When we first met, we didn't really care for each other. He was from Oregon, and I from Alabama; although I am from Alabama I am a rare fan of the Florida Gators, so we did not see eye to eye when it came to college football. A couple of days before shipping off to Afghanistan, we watched a video of a soldier getting hit by an IED (improvised explosive device). My first thought was, "we’re not ready for this".
On July 11, 2012, our platoon had to relieve 3rd platoon, who had been hit hard by an IED attack to the east of us. So we set out on a patrol. After we arrived to complete the transfer, we found out they did not have enough water, so we pitched in and halved our available water with them. With the 125 degree heat, that left me with two bottles of water. Once we entered the town, our mission was to go look for a dead insurgent that had been killed by helicopter fire right before we got there. With every step we took in the town, we were finding IED after IED and it was very dangerous. As we got closer to the location of the body, we received intel of a complex ambush, which would include indirect fire from either IEDs or RPG’s (Rocket propelled grenades), followed by direct small arms fire. We stopped in a pretty secure location about 800 meters from the entrance of a town.
An Afghan National Army platoon was performing searches from hut to hut. As our light machine guns covered both avenues of approach, the rest of our squad spread out in the area. I was the radio transmission operator (RTO), and stayed with the interpreter and continually relayed intel to my platoon sergeant. This is when I walked up and pointed out the IED that had hit 3rd platoon. I also noticed a red rag hanging over a wall about chest high. Directly across from that was a small bridge about three feet wide and five feet long. On the bridge were four rocks in a straight line. We noticed in past missions that this was a way for the Taliban to warn villagers to stay away. With that, we knew there was a possibility of an IED in the area, and knowing this information just a couple of feet away, we saw where an IED did go off. So our mine detector specialist started to scan the area and scanned well, but did not find anything and gave the all clear sign. At that time we heard radio chatter saying, "We are in position, ready to ambush". I went and told my Platoon Sergeant, that they were about to hit us. That’s when I went to the wall for cover and put my weapon on top.
The Blackout
The next thing I knew, I was on the ground with dirt in my eyes and dust all around me yelling "I’m hit, I’m hit". I could hear AK-47 rounds going off and that's when I returned fire along with the light machine gunner to my left. He was laying down a massive amount of rounds, but the AK shots continued. That's when I looked at my rifle and noticed my barrel in the shape of a banana. My flashlight, laser, and vertical grip were gone. Luckily my M-4 had shielded the blast and protected my right arm, as I was trying to rub all the dust and debris from my eyes, Thomas got to me and the first thing he said was, “you’re all right man, Roll Tide!" I said," No man, Go Gators!" He helped me strip all of my gear off and that’s when I looked down and noticed that I had lost my left foot, right above the ankle and my right leg had been severely fractured, middle way up with my shin turning in a forty-five degree angle.
Right after Thomas pushed my head down so I wouldn't go into shock at the sight of my injuries, I kept asking for water. This was a sign of shock. I had already drank my two bottles, so Thomas gave me his, but that never seemed to be enough. My medic finally got to me, and was able to administer a dose of morphine. SPC Fig and SGT Siniard, who were right beside me when the IED exploded, sustained injuries also; SPC Fig was injured to the point of temporary loss of consciousness, due to the percussion received from the blast. When the shooting finally stopped, we were able to call in the helicopter to have me airlifted. They strapped me to a sled and we waited. Fifty-five minutes later the helicopter finally arrived, but all I could think of during my wait, was my girlfriend Megan and my family. I surprised myself by staying conscious and I was even able to give Thomas, Megan's phone number, so he could tell her what exactly had happened. SPC Fig and I got onto the helicopter to go to the hospital. I kept asking the medic aboard for water but he wouldn't give me any. When we landed and the doors flew open I saw a dozen soldiers there to help me off-board. That is when I blacked out.
I woke up four days later, fighting off doctors and nurses, thinking I was still in a fighting circumstance. With my left leg amputated and my left arm bandaged up tight, it all started to sink in. Luckily my family was there with me and of course, my beautiful best friend, Megan, who surrounded me with hope and care. I stayed in the hospital until late September of 2012, then moving into the Wounded Warrior apartments in October. After my initial care, my lifelong permanent injuries include both legs, below the knees, are amputated; my left arm was damaged to the point of only 30% use of my left hand, along with my left little finger removed; moderate damage to my left eye; diagnosed with moderate traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder.
That experience was truly amazing and with all the struggles I have endured, from deployment to injury through recovery, I have realized why I did it; because of this great nation we live in. Even though there are people that disagree with what I do as a soldier, I gave them that freedom to disagree. Things are a lot easier now because of the great staff that performed my occupational and physical therapy, to include the doctors and nurses who work here at Walter Reed hospital. Since my homecoming in November, I am able to walk without a cane and will soon be running.
Just this past February I married my best friend and soul mate Megan Forrester and we are expecting our first child, Kyleigh Nicole Garmon, in September of 2013. I have been through a lot of mountains and valleys in my life time, but there is nothing I can’t overcome. With the experiences I’ve been through, along with the support of my loved ones, there is nothing in life that can keep me down. I am going to stand up and walk right through it."
- Sgt. Corey Garmon, United States Army
