InfoAnda - 'No regret' for Afghanistan veteran double amputee

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

20 killed in bus fire in India | 9 December 2008
Asia-Europe flights halted due to Iceland volcano | 16 April 2010
Israel stops Iranian aid ship heading to Gaza | 14 January 2009

No Basketball Association? League to lock out players as of midnight | 1 July 2011

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : 'No regret' for Afghanistan veteran double amputee

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Asia Pacific World Search Search: 'No regret' for Afghanistan veteran double amputee AFP - Sunday, March 1 WASHINGTON, (AFP) - - His military career came to a brutal halt when an improvised bomb on an Afghan road tore both of his legs off. ADVERTISEMENT But like other American veterans being treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, Staff Sergeant Michael Downing said he has turned the page and is fiercely dedicated to relearning basic movement. "I waited until my son was old enough to remember who I was if something really bad happened. He's almost nine years old," the 42-year-old tattooed sergeant told AFP in his small dimly-lit room, recalling how he volunteered to be deployed to Afghanistan's Logar province. "I knew what I was getting into when I signed up. I did my job, I am done. I have no regret," said Downing, adding that he would probably retire from the army, like 80 percent of Walter Reed amputees. Downing was wounded in September. "We got hit by an IED (improvised explosive device).... It went off right underneath me, I was gunning" in an armored Humvee, Downing said, adding that he was thrown from the vehicle and landed 40 feet (12 meters) away. The Taliban then attacked his detachment. "I did shoot with my pistol to try to make them duck a little bit," he said. "During the fight, a Navy corpsman was working on me the whole time we were getting shot at.... He put a tourniquet on what was left of my left leg and gave me morphine." Since 2001, the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have killed nearly 5,000 US soldiers, but also wounded 30,000 others, including nearly 900 amputees, most of whom have been treated at Walter Reed, the country's largest military hospital. "Everything you take for granted, getting out of bed, going to the bathroom, cooking a meal, they teach you how to do this with your handicap," said Downing, who was awarded a Purple Heart for his combat wounds. "You have to learn how to walk again. The walking, I am getting there, it takes time," he added, noting his five hours of therapy per day. He also had 16 surgeries after shrapnel fractured his elbow, broke five ribs and cracked his vertebra. After enlisting in the US Army in 1985, Downing served for several years before taking a 13-year break. He then volunteered again "specifically because of September 11," 2001 attacks on US soil, he said. But he whispered to a civilian visitor planning to travel to Afghanistan: "You don't want to go, things are getting worse." New US President Barack Obama has called Afghanistan the central front in the fight against terrorism, rather than Iraq, and has approved the deployment of 17,000 additional troops -- joining 38,000 US troops already there -- to take on Taliban insurgents. Staff Sergeant Earl Granville, 25, will also no longer return to combat. A veteran of Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, he lost his left leg a year ago, close to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. In a corner of the large physical therapy center for amputees, between two weight machines, a dozen artificial limbs are lined up, fitted with brand-name sneakers. Granville joined the army when he was 17 years old. "My motivation, honestly, was free college. Then 9/11 happened, and I really enjoyed the army so I stayed in." His calf now replaced with a prosthesis, he says he is happy and was lucky. "I was the team leader, so I sat in the passenger seat of the Humvee. And then, a major wanted my job, so he took my seat and I went for the gunner position. Then we hit an IED. I went unconscious. That major and the driver were killed," Granville explained. "When it happened to me, I thought it was the end of the world. But when I came here, I saw people like me. It helps," he said, smiling, while a physical therapist was working with a young patient on the neighboring bed. He went skiing in December. "We really try to ensure that the latest technology is made available to our soldiers," said Lieutenant Colonel Paul Pasquina, a doctor and the head of Walter Reed's orthopedics and rehabilitation department. "The guys who have lost their limbs are going to need care for the rest of their life. We need to be committed to provide that care for the rest of their lives." Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article Average (0 votes) Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Related Articles: Entertainment & Lifestyle Cinema chain cancels movie over Sydney violenceAP - Monday, March 2 Siegfried and Roy in farewell appearanceAFP - Monday, March 2 Famed U.S. broadcaster Paul Harvey dies at age 90Reuters - Sunday, March 1 Jonas Brothers surprise fans at NY movie theaterAP - Sunday, March 1 Fans stunned by Rihanna-Chris Brown reconciliationReuters - Sunday, March 1 Enlarge Photo US Army Staff Sergeant Michael Downing, 42, a double amputee after being wounded last September in Afghanistan, is seen at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. Like other veterans at Walter Reed, Downing says he has turned the page and works fiercely to relearn basic movements. Most Popular – Entertainment Viewed Supermodel Bundchen ties knot with football star Brady Berkshire Hathaway buffeted by downturn Volkswagen to cut all temporary staff RBS posts record British loss, offloads toxic assets US economy shrinks stunning 6.2 percent View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Sunday, 1 March 2009
Israel's Netanyahu gives up on alliance with Livni | International |
Kiddie TV Show's One-Armed Host Stirring Debate in UK
Afghan president says polls to be held by May | International |
Chavez orders army takeover of Venezuela rice mills | International |
Iran says U.S.-led forces plan to stay in Iraq | International |
U.N. court to ask Lebanon to hand over generals: report | International |
Japan and China seek agreement beyond islands row | International |
Intel, TSMC to unveil strategic tie-up on Monday | Technology |
Buffett Predicts Economy 'In Shambles' For Rest Of 2009
Republicans Praise Obama's Iraq Plan, Say Bush Deserves Credit
Bankers Association Head Slams State Of The Union Accusations
Kiddie TV Show's One-Armed Host Stirring Debate in UK
Hariri tribunal to open its doors in The Hague
El Salvador honors soldiers who served in Iraq
Afghan contender criticizes Karzai's poll decree | International |
Iraq: Oil prices may drag budget lower
Clinton dives into Arab-Israeli peacemaking | International |
Obama's balancing act on Iraq withdrawal strategy
ECB to pioneer record low rates: analysts
South Korea's Lee calls on North to stop missile plans | International |
China plans space station with module launch in 2010
Abbas insists on leading Gaza rebuilding
Mexican troops reinforce besieged border city | International |
EU leaders seek united front amid protectionism fears
U.N. court to ask Lebanon to hand over generals
Special tribunals to try Bangladesh mutineers | International |
Swiss minister hints at 'concessions' on banking secrecy
Americans relieved as Obama pledges Iraq wind down
Chavez orders army to seize Venezuela rice mills | International |
SEC accuses Stanford of Madoff-type scam
Firebomb thrown at crowded Cairo metro station
Kremlin faces local vote test as opposition cries foul | International |
Berkshire Hathaway buffeted by downturn
Shark injures teen off popular Australian beach | International |
Czech PM urges EU leaders not to "beggar thy neighbour"
WITNESS: Reporting from behind China's Himalayan curtain | International |
Clinton leaves for Mideast, Europe to soothe allies
Chavez rejects US report on drug trafficking
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,253
North Korea Issues Threatening Warning To U.S. Troops
Chavez says Obama same as Bush on drug war
Three Die In Wyoming Avalanche
Amazon lets authors mute Kindle books read-aloud feature
China's Wen makes Internet debut
US-TECH Summary
Intel, TSMC to unveil strategic tie-up on Monday
Depeche Mode debuts season-pass model on iTunes
EU leaders seek united front amid protectionism fears
Spain heads to the polls in regional elections
Famed U.S. broadcaster Paul Harvey dies at age 90 | Entertainment |
China toughens laws on corruption, insurance: reports
Bangladesh border guards return to HQ after mutiny
Fears gale-force winds will whip up Australian wildfires
ASEAN leaders urge economic reform, cooperation
Iran wants apology from Hollywood team
Australian gang film pulled from cinemas after brawls
Wen warns economic crisis spreading in China
Global Weather-Celsius
S.Korea export slump eases in Feb, but outlook grim
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
India's Reliance Industries to absorb refining unit, create giant
Economic, social fears to dominate China parliament
Thai PM: Southeast Asia faces severe economic test
New anthem strikes a chord in SEAsia
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Famed U.S. broadcaster Paul Harvey dies at age 90
Jonas Brothers surprise fans at NY movie theater
Milan fashion has jungle beat
Fans stunned by Rihanna-Chris Brown reconciliation
Iran wants apology from Hollywood team
Africa's biggest film festival gets underway
Slumdog child star slapped for refusing interview: report
Israel vows 'severe' answer to Gaza rocket fire
Hariri tribunal opens its doors in The Hague
Iran has enough nuclear fuel to make bomb: U.S. | International |
Mideast peace envoy Blair makes Gaza visit | International |
Mideast envoy Blair makes first Gaza visit
Court opens in assassination case of Lebanon ex-PM | International |
Hariri tribunal gets underway in The Hague
New UBS chief signals flexibility on tax evasion: report
Iran and Syria to boost trade | International |
O'Driscoll fights shy of rugby Slam talk
Zimbabwe MDC activists freed on bail: lawyer | International |
Clinton leaves for Mideast, Europe to soothe allies
Medvedev sees no 'dramatic' change in Russia from crisis
Obama picks Kansas governor for health post
Russia expecting new US missile defence proposals
Obama envoy in UAE on Mideast peace mission
CeBit aims to entice cash-strapped consumers | Technology |
US Marine dies in Iraq's Anbar province
Five People Stabbed Outside Manhattan Night Club
CeBit aims to entice cash-strapped consumers
Obama To Introduce Kansas Governor As Health Secretary
Sensitive Security Information About President's Helicopter Sent To Iran
Warren Buffett Admits Major Mistake, Sees Economy In Shambles In 2009
British team trek to North Pole to measure sea ice
Bangladesh charges 1,000 guards in mutiny massacre
Suspected U.S. missile attack kills 8 in Pakistan
Pakistan: Suspected US missiles hit northwest
U2 album a hit, Bono campaigning a miss: critics | Entertainment |
Bangladesh says 1,000 mutineers wanted for murder
Bangladesh plans tribunal for mutiny massacres
Tibetan monks protest in restive West China
Pakistani cleric seeks prisoners' release in Swat
China plans first space docking for 2011
Beijing Palace Museum curator visits Taiwan
China lunar probe mission ends with planned crash
Thai PM: economy to slide further in 1st quarter
Thai economy to contract further in Q1: PM
SKorea swings to 3.29 billion dollar surplus
Cinema chain cancels movie over Sydney violence
Siegfried and Roy in farewell appearance
'No regret' for Afghanistan veteran double amputee
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01