Just a Man and His Dogs

operationroute66:

Sgt Daniel Prince the 3rd. Marines. Iraq.

Sgt Prince was the driver in a humvee when it hit an IED. The IED ejected his gunner from the roof and threw him under the Humvee. Dan found that he was unable to move his back legs while the vehicle started to catch on fire. It wasn’t until he heard the scream of the gunner that he found the strength in his legs and was able to pull himself out of the vehicle and subsequently get under the car to pull his gunner from the wreckage of the hummer. After he pulled his friend and gunner from the humvee he went back to the car to pull the other man from the passenger seat. He threw the door open and grabbed the man’s flack jacket. The door swung back and knocked Sgt Prince into the vehicle. At the time this was happening the ammo in the back of the vehicle had caught fire and rounds were starting to cook off. Dan was protected by the body of the man he was trying to pull from the wreckage. He finally managed to get out of the wreckage of the car and took cover from the ammo that was being cooked off and fired out of the vehicle.

During this mission Dan got a traumatic brain injury or TBI as it’s often referred to in the wounded veteran community. However, his injury was never diagnosed and he stayed in country, actively deployed for another 8 months after receiving his injury. 

Dan is now in treatment for the physical side effects of the TBI and is enjoying the time he gets with his family. He’s not allowing himself to be defined by his injury, and is still a warrior. It’s been hard for him to open up to anyone about his story because it’s difficult to re-live. It’s also difficult because as civilians none of us can truly comprehend or understand the things he’s seen and experienced. My dad and I feel a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation to Dan for not only his service but for giving us an insight into what his time in Iraq was like. We’re happy he’s home. We’re happy that he gets to spend his days with his family in piece. 

Please share Daniel’s story with a friend and check out our website: www.operationroute66.us for more amazing stories.

lomokev:

always texting on Flickr.

taken on Brighton pier

nickgerber:

Work

soundthat:

untitled by Lizzy Newman

“Fine” by ZachWheeler on Flickr.