Posted by: McQ on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 I belong to the US Army Ranger Association and receive their quarterly newsletter, "Ranger Register". It is the usual association newsletter, filled with stories about association activities, reports, where the convention will be and stories about members. In this month's issue there was a story which just blew me away. I thought I'd share it with you. In June 26th of 2003, a young Ranger with the 75th Ranger Regiment was greviously wounded in Iraq when, on his second tour, the humvee he was riding in was attacked. After exiting the vehicle after the explosion and attack, Ranger Kanaan Merriken passed out and was unconscious for 11 days. Upon regaining consciousness he discovered two of his fellow Rangers in the humvee - SGT Timothy Conneway and CPL Chris Andrews - had died from their wounds. Surgeons in Iraq had worked desperately to save his life. His carotid artery has been severed by shrapnel and part of the left frontal lobe of his brain had been damaged. The damaged portion had to be removed in a crainiotomy. He also had shrapnel wounds all over his body, a retinal hemorrage in his left eye and loss of hearing in his left ear. He was airlifted to Germany. His wife Kari remembers her first sight of him, "When I first saw him in the hospital, he was still unconscious, on a ventilator and covered in bandages. I didn't know if he'd live or die at that point ... or know if he'd even know who I was once he regained consciousness." He did regain consciousness, opening his eyes for the first time on July 6, 2003. He quickly recognized his wife and mother, but it was another 5 days before he could speak and an additional 5 days before he could speak in complete sentences. He acknowledged at the time, in an interview with the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, that "the road back for me will be a long one, but I'm prepared for it". Now I don't know about you, but I would expect that long road to be a recovery that would allow Kanaan Merriken to live a relatively normal life. The Army had medically retired him by that time. But that wasn't the road Merriken chose. Merriken's road to recovery included returning to active duty. In November 2005, Ranger Kanaan Merriken, after the succesful appeal of his medical retirement, completed the RIP course for the second time (Ranger Indoctrination Program ... a requirement for all candidates for duty with the 75th Ranger Regiment). He was selected as the classes' Honor Graduate and was the leadership award winner. He has subsequently rejoined the unit he so loves and is again a proud and serving member of the 75th Ranger Regiment. "Rangers Lead The Way!" |
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