A tale of a soldier's sacrifice

This is a story, found in the book “Walk in My Combat Boots”, about Corporal Hamill who served in Afghanistan from 2006 for six years.

Hamill had previous tours in Afghanistan and was experienced as to what was going on in country. His platoon was working in an area of operation, doing foot patrols and had ground intelligence  of an IED (improvised explosive device) in a compound.

Hamill was sent as a team leader with another soldier carrying the metal detector to the site. When they got to the area, Hamill could tell the metal detector soldier was very nervous as he was new and not experienced. So Hamill took the detector, the floor was all dirt. After sweeping about three-fourths of it he stepped on an IED, the bomb explodes sending him flying.

When he goes to stand up, he can’t. He sees his kneecap dangling and the lower part of his leg is gone. He picks up the piece of his leg, and hugs it to his chest. He is just 22 years old with a wife and two kids.

He winds up at Walter Reed Hospital, without a lower leg, as they couldn't re-attach it. One day, a nurse comes in to tell him that he was going to have a special visitor and be sure to shave.

He thinks to himself, "Great, some Marine officer is going to visit and what good is that.”

All of a sudden, there comes a cameraman and another civilian. Then walks in President Obama. Obama pinned the Purple Heart medal on Hamill’s chest, thanked him for service, visited a little and left. Hamill didn't agree with his politics, but thought Obama was a genuine dude.