Novenber 11, 2005

DAWN DE BUSK/Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU - When a rocket-propelled grenade ripped apart 22-year-old Charlie Potter's upper arm during an ambush in Iraq, the Valley resident remained composed by focusing on the outdoors activities he loves. “I honestly sat back, stayed calm, talked about hunting, fishing and the outdoors stuff I like to do,” he said.

What's the use in panicking, he asked himself as he recalled the events of July 3, 2005.

“It's about maintaining a calm state of mind. Otherwise, you just get your blood pressure up, and you're fighting yourself,” Potter said.

The blast also tore the bridge of Potter's nose and laid open his lip. He had been attacked while riding in a Humvee, which transports between four and five soldiers. As he reached for his weapon, one of three grenades hit his left arm. At first he thought he had broken his arm.

“Then I said, ‘I'm hit. Let's get outta here,'” Potter said.

Thirty minutes later, the young soldier arrived at a first-aid station somewhere in Iraq, where he was stabilized and then flown to a hospital in Germany, he said.

While other Americans were celebrating the Fourth of July with traditions like participating in hometown parades, eating hot dogs, burgers and potato salad, and igniting fireworks, Potter was in surgery for his war-time injury.

As surgeons reattached muscles and nerve endings in his arm, they kept asking him if he wanted plastic surgery on his face. Three times, he said, ‘No.' Finally, he told them to go ahead and do what they wanted.

Potter, who turned 22 Thursday - a day before Veterans Day, joined the military after the war effort in Iraq began. The young Valley resident is classified as a veteran for his service in the foreign war.

Potter isn't inclined to sit around telling war stories. He spends his spare time, when he isn't working with the youth program on the Fort Elmendorf Air Force Base or going through physical therapy, hanging out with friends like longtime buddy Chad McClurg.

“Air boating on Big Lake was how we got to know each other. Our parents had air boats, and we'd pop our heads out and wave to each other,” McClurg said.

Although Potter's injury has made it too painful for him to shoot a gun, Potter has gone fishing since returning to Alaska. He also attends the Alaska Fish and Game Advisory Board meetings to see what direction the future of fishing and hunting is going, he said.

Despite still being on the mend, Potter hasn't given up snowmachining.

It's an activity he took up when he was 4, living in Big Lake.

And it's a pastime around which he planned his leave from Iraq.

He took his leave in April to participate in the Arctic Man competition in Paxton, with McClurg by his side. Potter also raced in the Valdez Mayor's Cup after he completed military training in February 2003, he said.

Potter said growing up in rural areas like Big Lake and Houston instilled in him strong values and a love for the outdoors.

“We had more chores than kids in the city. We'd go play in our back yard,” Potter said.

He and McClurg also credit wrestling coach Doug Janneck and Activities Director Jamie Smith of Houston High School.

“Our Houston coaches inspired us to be better people, kept us in line and taught us how to be more disciplined,” Potter said.

Contact Dawn De Busk at 352-2252 or dawn.debusk@

frontiersman.com.