As more soldiers are rotating back to Iraq for their second (or more) deployment to that country, many of them are commenting on how much the region has improved since their previous visit.  Most are very encouraged to see positive changes, signs that liberty and democracy might be making headway.  Some of them have changed too, as people do over time and with combat experience.  A few of the recent arrivals, though, are more notable than others.

You see, these soldiers lost limbs in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq the first time around.  Yet they have struggled to overcome their injuries to not only return to an active life, but Active Duty as well.  Although they are relatively few in number (8 at last count), the numbers are growing, thanks in part to technological and medical improvements.  And thanks in large part to the determination of the soldiers themselves.

Captain David Rozelle is the first of these soldiers to return to a command position in Iraq.  He is glad to have the opportunity to continue to serve and his men are glad to have the experience that he brings to the position.  Says Capt. Rozelle, “At the very beginning I had a lot of self pity...  I thought I'd given enough.  Now that I'm here, it's brought things full circle...  It's allowed me to start my life again, in Iraq, where I thought it had ended.”

Fox News has two articles (Part One and Part Two) on some of these brave soldiers.  I have to say, though, that I disagree on their characterization of these men as “amputees.”  Yes, that is one facet of who they are now, but more importantly, they are soldiers, and they are an inspiration.