 Living
Called Operation Proper Exit, the program was developed to allow Soldiers who had received extreme injuries, while in combat, to return to the location they had been previously deployed. The program allows the Soldiers to gain a perspective of what their sacrifice means to Soldiers currently deployed, and view the advancements and changes in the region since their time and service in Iraq. The group began their visit in Diyala province by attending a luncheon hosted by a prominent, local sheikh. The Diyala governor Abdel-Nasir al-Muntasirbillah, former Governor Ra'ad, as well as several top officials from Multi-National Force - Iraq also attended the luncheon. During the visit, Sheikh Mazan expressed to the Soldiers that Diyala had progressed greatly since the beginning of the war and that the violence in the region was significantly less. He said this was a direct result of the effort the Soldiers had given in Iraq while deployed. During the gathering, the Soldiers had the opportunity to tell their story and how they received their injuries. The group also traveled to Forward Operating Base Warhorse near the provincial capital Baqubah, where a ceremony was held in commemoration of the sacrifices made by service members who had been killed or injured while serving in the province. The visit was the fourth of a five-day tour around the country to the regions where each Soldier was injured. "It is so important that these Soldiers see the progress that was made in Iraq," said Col. David Southerland, one of the six Soldiers receiving the tour and the former commander of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, who served in Diyala in 2007. "To be able to come back to Iraq and walk out on my own, it means a lot. I put a lot of hard work into this country and I don't even remember leaving last time because I was unconscious. It's finally going to be a closure," said Staff Sgt. Bradley Gruetzner, an injured Soldier on the tour. ADDITIONAL PHOTO:
|
