The 20th of July 2004 started as just another day in combat, having said that it does not seem very convincing that any day in combat could be just another day. We conducted physical training, personal hygiene, ate breakfast, performed vehicle inspections and an extensive mission brief for the day's mission. This day however would not be the same as every other day and the days that followed would test my internal abilities. My recovery involved three military hospitals spanning 10 months and 22 surgeries. Learning to live a normal life would rely on adjusting my idea of what a normal life in fact is.... On July 20, we were supporting the fourth platoon "Renegades" on a mission in the identical area of operation as the day before. They were to travel further south merely conducting a recon of the area. Much of this day's events do not exist in my memory and I am able to recall only one event. At the start of the mission as we worked towards the gate on the FOB the fourth platoon leader (PL) called on the radio explaining that, communications with the Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) from their platoon had been lost. Having a subject matter expert in my vehicle I sent Specialist Danny Daniels to restore communications in the vehicle, he did and we continued on the mission. Later that day at approximately 1400 hours, an IED struck the vehicle I was traveling in. ...

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