Monday, September 5, 2011

PFC Hockenberry: A Picture of Sacrifice

US Army PFC Kyle Hockenberry of the 1st Infantry Division was wounded by an IED blast in Afghanistan on 15 June.  On 10 August, he received the Purple Heart at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), in a ceremony in his hospital room, with 28 members of his family and his cohort in attendance, along with up to 30 more soldiers just outside his door.

Both legs were amputated above the knee, as well as his left arm above the elbow.

We have all heard stories such as this before, but this photo of medics working on the wounded Hockenberry says so much more.  Look carefully:

Hock


"For those I love, I will sacrifice."  There is nothing more I can add.

(H/T Blackfive.net)

*****
Update:  Hockenberry is being fitted for prosthetics and is "showing amazing strength".
Although many pieces of the future remain uncertain for the young man from Ohio, Kyle is sure of one thing -- if the Army will have him, he wants to stay on active duty and do whatever he can to continue to help his brothers and sisters in uniform.

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