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http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,102024,00.html
Scout Committed Despite Wounds
Army News Service | June 20, 2006
FOB Falcon, Iraq - A Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldier re-enlisted from his hospital bed at the 10th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad June 13.
Staff Sgt. Michell Caldwell, a scout with the 4th Infantry Division, reenlisted just hours after he was wounded in a gun battle in Hawh Rajab, a town in southern Baghdad.
His platoon was on patrol when it surprised a group of terrorists preparing to attack a nearby checkpoint. The Soldiers came under intense automatic-weapons fire from both sides of a road - some from as close as 15 feet away.
Caldwell ordered his Soldiers to engage the insurgents.
During the battle, Caldwell was shot through both forearms but continued to fight.
After the firefight he was evacuated to Forward Operating Base Falcon for emergency treatment.
Caldwell was then transported to the 10th CSH in Baghdad where Lt. Col. James Love, his battalion commander, and other members of his unit visited him.
"Sir, I was supposed to reenlist today. I want to reenlist before I leave," Caldwell said to Love.
The day before the patrol, he had asked a sergeant in his unit to schedule his reenlistment ceremony to begin another six years of service.
Soldiers assigned to the 10th CSH helped Caldwell with the paperwork instead. Sgt. 1st Class Jason Koutsalas, a 10th CSH career counselor, prepared the reenlistment documents – his first for a Soldier in the intensive care ward.
Doctors prepared Caldwell to be loaded on a stretcher for his trip to Germany for further treatment, while members of the platoon hung the American flag over Caldwell's bed and propped him up.
Caldwell was unable to raise his right arm due to multiple fractures, and 1st Sgt. David Yost signed the paperwork on Caldwell's behalf.
Capt. Jon Bodenhamer, Caldwell's company commander,administered the oath of reenlistment as the platoon stood at attention in the hospital ward.
Caldwell was later sent to Germany and then to the U.S. for surgery and rehabilitation.
"I am proud to have been able to make Staff Sgt. Caldwell's reenlistment possible," said Koutsalas. "It is all about taking care of Soldiers."
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