View Full Version : One of our own...
Surgicalcric
05-05-2005, 17:00
Achilles, an 18x BAC student, was injured on his 4th jump at BAC this week, yesterday I believe. The story is that he became entangled in someone else's static line during his exit of the A/C and has injured his arm extensively and is infact still in the hospital. I had spoken with him earlier in the week and he was due to graduate Friday and begin SFQC PH-1A on Monday.
I dont have any further details at this time, as this info was passed to me second hand by another 18Xer here who is in his BAC class. I will update it as I know more.
Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
Crip
Swindleous
05-05-2005, 17:24
I'll keep you in my prayers Achilles, have a speedy recovery!
Prayers out for a speedy recovery Achilles. Keep us posted James.
ghostinashell
05-05-2005, 18:13
Sorry to hear about this hope he has a speedy recovery.
Hoping Achilles' injuries are not serious. Prayers sent out.
If anyone collects for flowers, phone card, etc., pls. PM me details.
NousDefionsDoc
05-05-2005, 20:07
Anybody that can, please update as possible.
damn...hope he heals quickly...
tyrsnbdr
05-05-2005, 20:25
god bless, and speedy recovery
smokfire
05-05-2005, 20:34
Heal fast Achilles. Hope you can ruck up again soon.
smokfire
Ambush Master
05-05-2005, 20:38
Anybody that can, please update as possible.
Ditto HERE !!! Do take care.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Achilles. Prayers out.
Roguish Lawyer
05-06-2005, 10:51
Get well soon, and tape up that heel next time. ;)
brewmonkey
05-06-2005, 11:14
I wish you a speedy recovery brother!
Here's wishing you a speedy recovery, and an unfortunate welcome to the reality of training to do dangerous things.
Here's to a quick recovery.
Stargazer
05-06-2005, 12:31
Wishing you a quick recovery, Achilles.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Goggles Pizano
05-06-2005, 14:08
Ouch Bro, get well soon!
alphamale
05-06-2005, 16:02
Achilles, hope you're doing better soon.
If someone posts his address, I have a good magnetic game I can send him.
FrontSight
Achilles, get well soon. Prayers out.
Bill Harsey
05-06-2005, 18:46
Get well soon, and tape up that heel next time. ;)
That would be tape up that heel with kevlar and titanium.
Get well Achilles!
around the knife shop, it's not how many times you fall down, it's how many times you get back up.
edited to add: Heal Up Good!
Prayers out Sir.
Good luck for a speedy recovery Achilles.
get well soon man, i wish you the best.
JPH
Good Luck, hope you get well soon.
Hoping you mend quickly Achilles.
Roycroft201
05-07-2005, 09:52
Achilles - Sending good thoughts and prayers your way.
Ghostrider
05-07-2005, 10:20
Get well soon.
Achilles
05-07-2005, 12:01
Thanks everyone for your concern. I was released this morning from the hospital until Monday morning when I am supposed to start physical therapy. The worst thing about what happened was that, to the best of my knowledge, I didn't do anything wrong. I vividly remember handing off the static line, arm extended, to the safety and keeping eye contact until I turned, assumed the correct body position, and jumped from the aircraft. I had no idea I had a static line under my arm until I jumped out and was jerked very hard. The static line ripped about a third of my bicep down towards my elbow from the tendons attaching the tissue to the shoulder. The doc said that the tear is too close to the tendon for him to operate on, so I suppose I have to live with a deformity now. It's not too bad considering I'm still alive and will be able to recover most of the strength in my arm... it could have been much worse. It hurt really bad coming down but I was still able to pull both of my right side risers with my left arm and execute a good PLF, perhaps preventing further injury. I had my buddies (BrianH + 8-9 others that have not yet registered on this board) come visit me in the hospital yesterday on their way to Ft. Bragg. and I wish them the best of luck at the course. I only wish I could be by their side through SOPC, and I am very disappointed I will not be able to attend it with them. I'm unsure of my status right now. The doc says it's going to take 5-6 months to get full usage back in my arm, not including the time it will take for it to be strong and conditioned enough to head over to JFKSWC. For now, the Dream is on hold, but I will be coming to JFKSWC, it's just a matter of recovery.
I woke up today in my hospital bed with silver wings in my pocket. I know the 1SG and CO from my company in BAC came by yesterday, but since I didn't get to jump a 5th time I'm not quite sure what it means.
Thanks again, everyone.
Good to hear that you are alright. Don't get too down about the next phase. Do what your docs say and concentrate on your recovery bro... one thing at a time.
Lee
Sorry to hear about this.
I don't know the rules at the BAC but it sounds like you are a Paratrooper.
Remember it's not if but when you're going to the hospital in the line of work you picked. I hope this is your last time.
Get well soon.
Doc
Best wishes, get well soon.
Glad to see you post up Achilles, here is to a full recovery. Be well and take care.
Smokin Joe
05-08-2005, 02:23
Heal up quick Achilles...make sure you don't rush your recovery. Nothing would suck more then to spend several months healing up only to re-injury yourself because you rushed your healing in the first place. I know you can't wait to get to JFK just be smart about it. :cool:
Bill Harsey
05-08-2005, 09:55
Achilles,
Great to hear from you!
Ok, now all some good SF candidate needs is advice from a cave dwelling knifemaker, but here it is anyway.
First, remember patience when your healing up and use patience to heal up the first time.
Take advantage, if possible, to work on other skills that you need until you can build your arm back.
All The Best!
Bill
Outstanding advice and wishes from all, but you know you already have the strength to physically heal. Right now your crossroad is not only the physical, but more importantly, the mental. Allow yourself one minute to get all your "what ifs", "what will happens", and the ever popular "feel sorry for myselfs" in view - now blow them out - forever- and reset the mind. It happened - f... it and drive on. You will always glance back, its normal, - thems that never recover are the ones who stare. Your alive for a reason - it wasn't your time. Advantage - you. Good luck to you lad. Just a wee bit of worthless advice.
The doc said that the tear is too close to the tendon for him to operate on, so I suppose I have to live with a deformity now.
i seem to recall that John Elway had a rather stellar season one year, including winning a Super Bowl, with a similar malady... :lifter
I hope you have a speedy and full recovery, and hope you are back on the path to your dream ASAP.
Achilles!
Great to hear you're out the hospital and healing!
Concentrate your energies on healing now and the rest will follow.
Keep your spirits up and I hope you get well soon!!
Hoepoe
Achilles
05-09-2005, 09:17
i seem to recall that John Elway had a rather stellar season one year, including winning a Super Bowl, with a similar malady... :lifter
I've heard some MLB pitchers have had similar injuries and have had successful operations too... I might see a civillian surgeon and get a second opinion in the near future. To be perfectly honest, I care more about my friends in Bragg getting the crap smoked out of them, and I only wish I could be right by their side. I'm trying to figure out how I can use my recovery time in the most constructive manner possible. Thanks so much for the concern and advice yall, I will keep you posted.
Thanks everyone
Surgicalcric
05-09-2005, 10:14
...To be perfectly honest, I care more about my friends in Bragg getting the crap smoked out of them, and I only wish I could be right by their side...
It was a sight to see last evening...
Crip
Achilles
05-09-2005, 15:35
It was a sight to see last evening...
Crip
Just like you said it would be, Crip. I don't care how things there would get, I'd rather be by their side, where I belong.
And I will, but it won't be anytime soon. I started physical therapy today. It consists of lifting my right arm up with my left 10 times every hour. Olympic powerlifting here I come... :lifter
Team Sergeant
05-09-2005, 16:04
And I will, but it won't be anytime soon. I started physical therapy today. It consists of lifting my right arm up with my left 10 times every hour. Olympic powerlifting here I come... :lifter
I got hit from behind coming out of a C-141 tailgate, during a HALO jump, that dislocated my left shoulder. After repeated attempts to "re-locate" my shoulder during decent, (to no avail), I pulled at the prescribed altitude and spent the next year (after surgery) walking up walls with two fingers.
Heal, do as the docs tell you and run when they give you the green light. I was only in SF two years when that happened.
It ain’t over till the fat lady sings or you quit.
Shit happens, things change and no one has all the answers.
TS
Ambush Master
05-09-2005, 16:56
I had a "Frozen Shoulder" a few years back, keep that thing MOVING !!! Move it as much as the therapist will let you. The longer it stays immobile, the longer it will take to stretch all of the Bersa back out !!! Do take care and hang tough !!!
Later
Martin
Achilles
05-09-2005, 17:46
I got hit from behind coming out of a C-141 tailgate, during a HALO jump, that dislocated my left shoulder. After repeated attempts to "re-locate" my shoulder during decent, (to no avail), I pulled at the prescribed altitude and spent the next year (after surgery) walking up walls with two fingers.
Heal, do as the docs tell you and run when they give you the green light. I was only in SF two years when that happened.
It ain’t over till the fat lady sings or you quit.
Shit happens, things change and no one has all the answers.
TS
Roger, TS.
Thanks to you (and AM) for posting those replies. It gives me a better perspective to look at my situation from. I'm just trying to get over my frustration right now. It's a tough transition from being psyched about leaving for SOPC to dealing with the fact that my military career is temporarily over. If I wanted to have a safe job, I would have chosen a radically different career path, but making it through is still my goal, it just has to be postponed. It's OK, there's always something I could be learning in the meantime...
Ambush Master
05-09-2005, 17:54
It's OK, there's always something I could be learning in the meantime...
Can we say Land-nav?!?!?! :D
Achilles
05-09-2005, 17:59
Can we say Land-nav?!?!?! :D
:D
I'm sure there will be plenty to do at my new MOS : The Dreaded Charlie Quebec!
Swindleous
05-09-2005, 18:57
Take good care of yourself. If the timeline you're on is accurate we might be running into one another on your way to SOPC. Best of luck to you for a speedy recovery!
Jack Moroney (RIP)
05-09-2005, 19:28
Sounds like you will be okay. Follow the docs instructions and give yourself time to heal. You're going to pull through this just fine.
Jack Moroney
Bill Harsey
05-09-2005, 19:31
Achilles,
If you don't do what the Quiet Professionals here tell ya, you have to come out here and help me make knives.
I have a lot of steel that needs grinding.
It's OK, there's always something I could be learning in the meantime...
land nav is good...and with all the CQ you'll be looking at, you could have some killer code speed...even though there are some that consider IMC to be passe...
heck, you might as well get an 80 pax license while you're waiting... :D
D9 (RIP)
05-09-2005, 20:42
Very sorry to hear about the misfortune, bro. Focus on recovering and getting yourself healthy, the rest will work itself out in time.
Take care.
Go For Broke
05-09-2005, 21:49
Sorry to hear about your injury...sort of know how you feel. Dislocated my shoulder during the infil jump at Ranger School...MED Drop. Had to go back there two more times to finish it. So, FWIW...
Find other ways to do PT, within reason. The doc that wrote up our profiles at Benning must have thought we were basic trainees...the profile was walk at own pace / distance and stretching was allowed. Was doing PT about two weeks later - sit-ups / crunches, 1 hand push ups, and riding the heck out of that stationary bike. Never thought of it at the time, but can you do any kickboard exercises?
Follow the protocol that they give you. Yes, even those "silly" exercise with the surgical tubing and the "you want me to stretch what?!? how?!?"
Take the drugs that they tell you to. I did not take the motrin that they gave me, hated taking "pain pills"...find out later on, that is was not for the pain but for the swelling...got it, lesson learned.
Make sure everything is documented. For the obvious part, when you get out of the military...but in my case, so that I could go back to Ranger School and SFAS. I had to get a doctor to write in my med records and produce a memorandum, stating that I was fully recovered, no complications, and returned to duty.
Just remember...How bad do you want it?
Just my $0.02, and I am not a doctor (but I did stay at a Holiday Inn once on TDY :D (O-K, O-K...it was the Landmark ;) )), this was just my experience with an injury and trying to get back to Ranger School / SFAS.
Achilles
05-10-2005, 15:45
Sorry to hear about your injury...sort of know how you feel. Dislocated my shoulder during the infil jump at Ranger School...MED Drop. Had to go back there two more times to finish it. So, FWIW...
Find other ways to do PT, within reason. The doc that wrote up our profiles at Benning must have thought we were basic trainees...the profile was walk at own pace / distance and stretching was allowed. Was doing PT about two weeks later - sit-ups / crunches, 1 hand push ups, and riding the heck out of that stationary bike. Never thought of it at the time, but can you do any kickboard exercises?
Follow the protocol that they give you. Yes, even those "silly" exercise with the surgical tubing and the "you want me to stretch what?!? how?!?"
Take the drugs that they tell you to. I did not take the motrin that they gave me, hated taking "pain pills"...find out later on, that is was not for the pain but for the swelling...got it, lesson learned.
Make sure everything is documented. For the obvious part, when you get out of the military...but in my case, so that I could go back to Ranger School and SFAS. I had to get a doctor to write in my med records and produce a memorandum, stating that I was fully recovered, no complications, and returned to duty.
Just remember...How bad do you want it?
Just my $0.02, and I am not a doctor (but I did stay at a Holiday Inn once on TDY :D (O-K, O-K...it was the Landmark ;) )), this was just my experience with an injury and trying to get back to Ranger School / SFAS.
I'm not supposed to get my splint wet so kickboarding is (sadly) out of the question for now. I can do 1 arm pushups though, along with most my old ab excersizes. My arm is still extremely swollen so I'm staying away from aerobic activity. I really want to go back to college during my downtime (since I'm out for so long), but I don't think the big Army will let me, despite my injury being permanent. If anyone has any advice on that matter please PM me.
Thanks for all the advice, GFB.
PS: I was pulling staff duty here and I had BG Yarbrough manhandling my arm (well, not really). He had a few words to me to, but nothing of great consequence. When told "General Yarborough" (sounds like it at least) was coming, I was pretty excited. I dunno what he would be at 1/507th for though, LOL.
drawbreaker
05-16-2005, 14:25
Glad to hear you're alright Achilles. I think you were in the same bird as I was. I heard about the injury in the AA after the jump. As far as I know, the CO and the 1SG graduated you. And just in case you were wondering, we all said a prayer for you when we found out. Did you ever find out what happened? I was "told" that it wasn't your static line but the dude in front of you that threw it at the JM. Hope you're doing ok bro. Glad to see you on here. Heal up and take it slow.
RN # N245
SGT Dyer
1st PLT
5th Stick
Achilles
05-16-2005, 17:28
Not sure who's fault it was but as this was all an accident, it doesn't really matter. The CO took my wings away when I asked him about it, right after the OPNCO tore up my 18X orders and diploma right in front of me (he could have waited till I turned around!).
Oh well, drink water and drive on. I'll be back in a couple years anyway. What strength I lose I'll make up for by extra time in the gym. Thanks again everyone for your concern. If you have any old books you'd like to send me while I sit and wait a couple months for paperwork to go through, I can PM you my address.
Thanks again...
Kyobanim
05-16-2005, 17:51
Not sure who's fault it was but as this was all an accident, it doesn't really matter. The CO took my wings away when I asked him about it, right after the OPNCO tore up my 18X orders and diploma right in front of me (he could have waited till I turned around!).
Thanks again...
That's cold.
Keep your head on straight and make some lemonaid out of those lemons you just got served. I'm sure you'll be back when the time is right. Thoughts are with you.
CPTAUSRET
05-16-2005, 18:42
Achilles:
Best of luck to you. No one has all the answers, no one ever will.
Your attitude can make all the difference.
Terry
aricbcool
05-16-2005, 19:19
Keep your head on straight and make some lemonaid out of those lemons you just got served.
I was always told "When life hands you lemons, ask for Tequila and salt." ;)
Achilles,
What kind of books do you like to read?
--Aric
...right after the OPNCO tore up my 18X orders and diploma right in front of me (he could have waited till I turned around!)...
i'm saddened to hear that...a man does not have to lack compassion or be an ass to be hard...that sort of behavior is freakin' pathetic...
hang in there....hard times don't last, hard people do...
Goggles Pizano
05-16-2005, 22:08
Not sure who's fault it was but as this was all an accident, it doesn't really matter. The CO took my wings away when I asked him about it, right after the OPNCO tore up my 18X orders and diploma right in front of me (he could have waited till I turned around!).
Oh well, drink water and drive on. I'll be back in a couple years anyway. What strength I lose I'll make up for by extra time in the gym. Thanks again everyone for your concern. If you have any old books you'd like to send me while I sit and wait a couple months for paperwork to go through, I can PM you my address.
Thanks again...
Achilles,
That is a cold, self absorbed action and I am saddened to think "leaders" such as these are still in positions of power with regard to training. You're a paratrooper in my book and God bless you for busting ass to become one! If you need anything shoot me a PM. I'll gladly drop what I am doing to lend a hand.
Achilles
05-17-2005, 14:23
Thanks again for the encouragement yall.
It's really no big deal what the OPNCO did. There's nothing he (or anyone else save God and TR) could have said or done to keep me from coming back so I could hopefully attend the SFQC. I'm not letting go that easy. Anyway, 5 more jumps out of a plane sounds fun.
Thanks again for the encouragement yall.
It's really no big deal what the OPNCO did. There's nothing he (or anyone else save God and TR) could have said or done to keep me from coming back so I could hopefully attend the SFQC. I'm not letting go that easy. Anyway, 5 more jumps out of a plane sounds fun.
That is a great attitude! PM inbound.
Prayers out,
Holly
alphamale
05-17-2005, 19:55
The CO took my wings away when I asked him about it, right after the OPNCO tore up my 18X orders and diploma right in front of meThere was a company that was on everyone's A list to work for when I graduated.
They did 2 rounds of on-campus interviews, and 2 rounds of technical and personal interviews at their location. Was interviewed by ~ 20 people. One of my study-group buddies had his resume torn up in front of him by the incredibly arrogant on-campus recruiter.
For the type of job I have now, doing that as a situation test would be valid. (And this is not a comment on whether or not it's a good thing for SF.) For the pure algorithm development type of geek job we were interviewing for right out of college, it was completely ridiculous.
When I received an offer from them to work on what they described as their key project for the next 2 years, I returned it torn up with a letter to the arrogant recruiter explaining that I would not choose to work for a company that would select him as their representative. And I sent a copy of the letter priority mail to each of the people on-site I interviewed with. Received about a dozen phone calls including from the VP of the division who called to say that that recruiter wouldn't be representing his division again. Too late.
FrontSight
It's really no big deal what the OPNCO did.
maybe not to you, and that's good...but i believe i am a shareholder in the US of Army (i get a dividend check every month) and it pisses me off...
five more jumps out of an airplane will be fun...
For the pure algorithm development type of geek job we were interviewing for right out of college, it was completely ridiculous.
that would explain the arms... :lifter
alphamale
05-17-2005, 21:00
that would explain the arms... :lifterBut it doesn't explain the prehensile toes so useful for pain compliance in unsuspecting XY's! :lifter
FrontSight
Ambush Master
05-17-2005, 21:08
But it doesn't explain the prehensile toes so useful for pain compliance in unsuspecting XY's!
FrontSight
Do I see a new moniker in the making here ?!?!?!
"Monkey Girl" ?!?!?!?!?! :munchin
alphamale
05-17-2005, 21:14
Swinging from branch to vine too fast for you XY's !! :lifter
Ambush Master
05-17-2005, 21:18
Swinging from branch to vine too fast for you XY's !! :lifter
Not quite fast enough Little Lady !! :D
ghostinashell
05-17-2005, 21:33
Hey man sorry to hear about the misfortune but you have a good attitude so you'll be fine with what ever you pursue. I have a shit ton of books to box up as I ship soon so let me know what you like to read and I'll send something over to you. Good luck.
Yeah mate, keep at it.
If you want any NZ or Brit themed books I can send some over to you.
EDIT: Military books, that is. If I sent you the official NZ Army history you would seriously die though. Honestly.