By Rebecca Taylor, The Register-Guard
Published: February 7, 2008 10:19AM
Five young veterans injured in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq stood before a small gathering on Wednesday and heard two words they don't hear often enough: Thank you.
"We're here to say thank you to these young men today because they laid it on the line, as have veterans of other generations," said Richard Casey, district commander for the American Legion and a veteran of the Korean War. "These young people are members of a very large organization - American veterans."
Casey presented the men with American Legion membership cards and $500 checks, courtesy of the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping seriously injured veterans of the war on terror. The group awarded 1,000 grants to disabled veterans across the country on a first-come, first-served basis.
The checks were a "small token" of appreciation, Casey said, but the money and the recognition meant a lot to the men who were honored Wednesday at the Veteran's Memorial Building in Eugene.
Michael Oreskovic was a corporal in the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army from November 2003 to October 2004. He worked with a small patrol doing reconnaissance and surveillance, primarily patrolling the Syrian border for insurgents crossing into Iraq.
His tour ended abruptly after a pair of car bombs tore off his left arm and pierced his body with shrapnel.
"I was blown up twice in one week," he said. The first bomb detonated Oct. 5, 2004, and left shrapnel in his left arm and right hip.
He was patched up, given a Purple Heart and returned to duty.
Six days later, on Oct. 11, his patrol was hit by another car bomb in Mosul. The blast partially blinded him but he returned fire before he realized his left arm was gone. "I thought it was just broken," he said.
After a year of recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. - where he met such luminaries as the president, vice president, joint chiefs of staff and comedians Adam Sandler and Rob Schneider - he returned to Eugene, grateful to be home. He has been taking classes at Lane Community College and hopes to become a history teacher.
The two explosions left him with a traumatic brain injury that causes short-term memory problems, making studying and concentrating difficult. He said he sometimes gets frustrated when his classmates argue with him about the war.
"They've spent their whole lives in front of the TV watching the war and they want to tell me how it is," he said. "I try to deal with it as best I can."
Jacob Courtright was part of the initial push into Iraq, where he spent nine months with the 1st Armored Division of the Army. Since returning home, he's been battling for benefits from the Veterans' Administration.
Until about two weeks ago, he had been homeless. Now he's living in his mother's garage. The $500 check helps, he said.
"It means a lot to me," Courtright said. "It means a lot that there are people out there who care." Also present at Wednesday's ceremony was Derek Breckenridge, a Marine who served in Iraq for three months in 2003 before he tore two ligaments in his ankle when he jumped out of a truck during an ambush and was sent home against his will. Returning to regular life has been a tough adjustment.
"Driving is one of my biggest problems," he said. "I have a problem with road rage. My whole world was (changed) riding in the back of a truck."
He's currently taking a break from school, where he's working toward a degree in forestry.
"It's great that the American Legion is recognizing us like this," he said. "It's an honor to be with guys from World War II."
Adam Murray, who served in Afghanistan with the Army's 10th Mountain Division in 2006-07, and Lloyd Baldridge, an Army specialist with the 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq, were also present Wednesday. Four other veterans who could not attend the ceremony will also receive checks.
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Published: February 7, 2008 10:19AM
Five young veterans injured in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq stood before a small gathering on Wednesday and heard two words they don't hear often enough: Thank you.
"We're here to say thank you to these young men today because they laid it on the line, as have veterans of other generations," said Richard Casey, district commander for the American Legion and a veteran of the Korean War. "These young people are members of a very large organization - American veterans."
Casey presented the men with American Legion membership cards and $500 checks, courtesy of the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping seriously injured veterans of the war on terror. The group awarded 1,000 grants to disabled veterans across the country on a first-come, first-served basis.
The checks were a "small token" of appreciation, Casey said, but the money and the recognition meant a lot to the men who were honored Wednesday at the Veteran's Memorial Building in Eugene.
Michael Oreskovic was a corporal in the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army from November 2003 to October 2004. He worked with a small patrol doing reconnaissance and surveillance, primarily patrolling the Syrian border for insurgents crossing into Iraq.
His tour ended abruptly after a pair of car bombs tore off his left arm and pierced his body with shrapnel.
"I was blown up twice in one week," he said. The first bomb detonated Oct. 5, 2004, and left shrapnel in his left arm and right hip.
He was patched up, given a Purple Heart and returned to duty.
Six days later, on Oct. 11, his patrol was hit by another car bomb in Mosul. The blast partially blinded him but he returned fire before he realized his left arm was gone. "I thought it was just broken," he said.
After a year of recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. - where he met such luminaries as the president, vice president, joint chiefs of staff and comedians Adam Sandler and Rob Schneider - he returned to Eugene, grateful to be home. He has been taking classes at Lane Community College and hopes to become a history teacher.
The two explosions left him with a traumatic brain injury that causes short-term memory problems, making studying and concentrating difficult. He said he sometimes gets frustrated when his classmates argue with him about the war.
"They've spent their whole lives in front of the TV watching the war and they want to tell me how it is," he said. "I try to deal with it as best I can."
Jacob Courtright was part of the initial push into Iraq, where he spent nine months with the 1st Armored Division of the Army. Since returning home, he's been battling for benefits from the Veterans' Administration.
Until about two weeks ago, he had been homeless. Now he's living in his mother's garage. The $500 check helps, he said.
"It means a lot to me," Courtright said. "It means a lot that there are people out there who care." Also present at Wednesday's ceremony was Derek Breckenridge, a Marine who served in Iraq for three months in 2003 before he tore two ligaments in his ankle when he jumped out of a truck during an ambush and was sent home against his will. Returning to regular life has been a tough adjustment.
"Driving is one of my biggest problems," he said. "I have a problem with road rage. My whole world was (changed) riding in the back of a truck."
He's currently taking a break from school, where he's working toward a degree in forestry.
"It's great that the American Legion is recognizing us like this," he said. "It's an honor to be with guys from World War II."
Adam Murray, who served in Afghanistan with the Army's 10th Mountain Division in 2006-07, and Lloyd Baldridge, an Army specialist with the 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq, were also present Wednesday. Four other veterans who could not attend the ceremony will also receive checks.
