Pictures of Injured Veterans back home. The healing continues.

http://americangg.net/veterans-reveal-10-pictures/

Veterans reveal what they look like after more than 10 years of war in 10 breathtaking pictures

Photographer David Jay tells the story of veterans coming home from more than 10 years of war in the middle east. He has collected their photographs and their experiences in a project known as the Unknown Soldier.

Unlike most of the wars in the 20th Century, the wars of today are largely ignored by the free citizens at home. Jay wrote says the project creates “an opportunity to open a dialogue about issues we are not necessarily comfortable with…and also issues that we are responsible for. The images can be uncomfortable for the viewer. It forces us to confront our fears and inhibitions about life, death, sexuality, sickness, relationships, etc. Reality is not always pretty. This is reality. Let’s address it.”

David is not looking to make a political statement, and hopes no one viewing these veterans misinterprets the point of this project. “The Unknown Soldier is about neither war nor politics,” he writes, “but rather something infinitely simpler and more powerful. Please post nothing about the former.” The purpose of this project is to introduce the world to the men who gave just short of everything for our freedoms.

The following images and text were taken in no particular order directly from the Unknown Soldier Facebook page,

1. Bobby Henline – “Bobby’s transport was incinerated by a roadside bomb in Iraq. He was the lone survivor. As I find so often in shooting The Unknown Soldier, it is impossible for me to convey in words what a beautiful, kind, courageous and inspiring human being Bobby Henline is. I hope these pictures do a better job.”

(image source; Facebook/The Unknown Soldier)

2. Michael Fox – “This is Michael Fox, a 27 year old Marine . . . and an amazing man. On November 15, 2011 Michael was on foot patrol in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. His is the first picture of “The Unknown Soldier”.”

(image source; Facebook/The Unknown Soldier)

3. Jerral Hancock – “This is Jerral Hancock. He was driving a tank in Iraq. A roadside bomb pierced the armor, breaching the interior. We shot these pics two weeks ago at his home in Lancaster, Ca where Jarral lives with his two, beautiful children.”

(image source; Facebook/The Unknown Soldier)

4. Nicholas John Vogt – “This is 1LT Nicholas John Vogt, US Army. On November 12, 2011, he was severely injured by an IED while on a foot-patrol in Panjwaii, Afghanistan. We took these pictures this past weekend in the swimming pool at Walter Reed Medical Center. I asked Nicholas for his permission to post these images and this was his response: “The only thing that I want to pass on is this: Losing limbs is like losing a good friend. We wish we could still be with them, but it wasn’t ‘in the cards’. Then we get up, remember the good times, and thank God for whatever we have left. “
To Nicholas . . . and all of the men and women of The Unknown Soldier, I can’t thank you enough for your courage and sacrifice . . . both on and off the battlefield. It is an honor to photograph you.”

(image source; Facebook/The Unknown Soldier)

5. Thomas Young – “On March 28th I photographed Tomas Young at his home in Kansas City, Mo. His name (or face) may be familiar to you. If not, it should be. Tomas, paralyzed from his wounds, only has a short time left.”

(image source; Facebook/The Unknown Soldier)

6. Marissa Strock – “This past weekend I went to Washington, DC. I was privileged to photograph Spc. Marissa Strock. She was injured when her vehicle was struck by an IED buried in the road. She was 20 years old. Thank you, Marissa, for your bravery . . . both on and off the battlefield.”

(image source; Facebook/The Unknown Soldier)

7. Matthew Aiken – “A couple of months ago I met EOD Ssg Matthew Aiken at an airport in Charlotte, NC. I recently had the opportunity to photograph him at Walter Reed Medical Center. Only 5 months prior, on April 3, 2013, Matt was injured while clearing an IED site on Kandahar. Matt, you have been and continue to be an incredible leader and inspiration to all who meet you.”

(image source; Facebook/The Unknown Soldier)

8. Joel Tavera – “This past week I had the honor of photographing Sgt Joel Tavera at his home in Tampa, Fla. Joel, now 26, was injured in Iraq at age 20. Severely burned, blinded, a leg lost and over 90 surgeries later . . . I found him to be one of the most beautiful, inspiring people I have ever met. Joel had this to say: “Looks are deceiving . . . what looks like a half empty glass is actually three-quarters full”.
To Joel . . . and all of the men and women of The Unknown Soldier, I can’t thank you enough for your courage and sacrifice . . . both on and off the battlefield. It is an honor to photograph you. David Jay
PS. That’s Joel’s awesome Dad. His beautiful and equally amazing Mother wouldn’t let me take her picture.”

(image source; Facebook/The Unknown Soldier)

9. Bobby Bernier – “This past week I went to San Antonio, Tx. There I had the privilege of photographing both Daniel Burgess and Bobby Bernier. They are friends. Daniel stepped on a IED, losing one leg and destroying the other. Bobby was hit by incoming artillery, sustaining burns over 60% of his body. He is pictured here with his daughter Layla.”

(image source; Facebook/The Unknown Soldier)

10. Cedric King – “On July 25th, 2012, SFC Cedric King, an Airborne Ranger, was severely injured by an Improvised Explosive Device (I.E.D.) while serving his country in Afghanistan. Due to the explosion Cedric sustained a multitude of internal and external injuries, losing both his legs.
Cedric was doing his laps while I was photographing 1LT Nicholas Vogt in the pool at Walter Reed Medical Center last week. Cedric kept watching . . . so I had to ask. Cedric said “that man (Nicholas) doesn’t know it but he changed my life. There was a point when I was so down that I thought I couldn’t go on. And then one day I saw him swimming . . . and I just thought, wow . . . if he can go on like that, then I can go on too”. Cedric will also change people’s lives. Already has.”

(image source; Facebook/The Unknown Soldier)

Visit The Unknown Soldier Facebook page to meet more veterans who’ve found their way back home. Thank you for your service.