Wasilla soldier returns from Iraq

A homemade bomb wasn't enough to stop Sgt. Tyler Hall -- but maybe enough to change his plans.

He didn't plan to return to the U.S. without his unit, but had to leave them behind when he suffered injuries greater than could be cared for in Iraq. And he didn't plan for an early retirement from the U.S. Army, but is now contemplating a career as a civilian engineer instead of the training in explosives and demolition he was getting from the Army.

With a broken back, burns across his face and hands and an amputated lower leg, Tyler Hall walked determinedly down the concourse of the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport last week amid the pulse of flashbulbs and applause. He's the first injured veteran from the Valley to return from Iraq, and he received a hero's welcome, including a hug from U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and a welcome banner signed by the staff at Wasilla's city hall, presented by Mayor Dianne Keller.

"He was on our flight -- we applauded him," said one disembarking passenger, who stopped to ask a reporter what all the cameras were for.

Hall, on Dec. 11, returned to Alaska after about three months at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital in Washington, D.C., courtesy of four plane tickets secured by staff from U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski's office. Three of the tickets were for Tyler to stretch out in, and was one for his mother, Kim, who had been by her son's bedside.

"I think it was your efforts as a mom to ask a perfectly simple request -- to help you get your son home for the holidays," Murkowski told Kim and Tyler when the family gathered with a few reporters and photographers at the airport after Tyler and Kim deplaned. She explained that one ticket was donated by the Anchorage YMCA, but three were donated by people who wanted to remain anonymous. "They wanted you to know how heartily we appreciate and value the service you have provided to our country. It's a very small way we can say 'thank you.'"

Kim said a friend of the family had contacted Murkowski's office on her behalf, in hopes of helping the family be together for the holidays. Tyler's three brothers, Kim said, hadn't seen him since before he left for Iraq, and had been worrying about him since they got the news that he and others in his unit had been injured when a bomb exploded under their vehicle.

20 days to go

On Aug. 22, Hall was reportedly traveling with five others in the 4th Infantry Division's 555th Engineer Group, 14th Engineering Battalion. The six were traveling in a personnel carrier -- a five-ton Stewart Stevenson FMTV -- north of Tikrit, headed for an ammunition depot. It was three years, 11 months and eight days into Tyler's term of service with the army, and he had 20 days to go before he was scheduled to either get out or re-enlist -- a decision he hadn't yet made. When the personnel carrier turned onto a small road, a small bomb was remotely detonated beneath the vehicle. The homemade bomb, which is commonly used against U.S. troops, exploded under the middle rear of the vehicle, and Hall took the brunt of the blow. Tyler said the bomb severed a bolt holding together Kevlar protective plating under the truck. The plates blew into the passenger area, and the explosion ignited a fire in the truck. Tyler said pictures taken after the fire show a melted shell, similar to a soda can left in a fire.

The aftermath

Although others traveling with him received injuries, none were as bad as Tyler's. He said he suffered major head trauma, which left him in a coma for a month. His back was broken in three places, a lung was punctured by tool boxes within the vehicle, his left upper arm was broken, he lost nine teeth and several bones in his face were fractured, in addition to burns along his hands and face. A bone in his lower left leg was broken in more than 100 places.

Tyler was treated in Iraq immediately after the explosion, and Kim got a phone call every mother dreads. It was ironic, she said, that the news came by phone -- she had taken pains to prevent visitors from using the front door, sure that bad information would be signaled by a ringing of the doorbell. When army officials called, Kim said she was told Tyler's condition was too critical for travel, and he wasn't expected to survive the next 72 hours.

He made it through that length of time and more, and was eventually flown to Germany. Kim said she inquired about traveling to Germany, but was told she may miss him, as he was going to be sent to Walter Reed as soon as possible. After a few days of waiting, Kim purchased the plane ticket -- with a donation from the Sunny Knik Chapel and Pastor Duane Guisinger, who himself has two sons in the U.S. Navy. While Kim prepared to leave, Samuel Hutchinson, who was stationed with Tyler through his two years in Germany, visited Tyler with his new wife, Elaine. Kim said the two stayed by Tyler's bedside, talking and reading and reminiscing, while Tyler remained in a coma. They relayed information to Kim twice a day, taking note if there were any signs of progress. It wasn't easy being apart, Kim said, but she was happy to get a call from "Hutch" when Tyler moved his fingers.

"He said 'I know he knows we're here -- don't give up, just keep on going,'" Kim said.

About a week and a half after being flown to Germany, Tyler was flown aboard a C-141 to Washington, D.C. It was a scary flight, Kim said, with patients strapped into beds suspended from the ceiling to reduce trauma from bumps or turbulence. After he arrived at Walter Reed, doctors went to work. They worked for 14 1/2 hours to reconstruct his face alone, and Kim said after Tyler's leg was being treated for infection and other problems, she was asked to make the decision whether or not he should undergo amputation. It was a tough decision to make, Kim said, but she realized it may be her son's best hope for walking in the future. Tyler now has three pins in his left arm and, after several operations, spent another month learning how to walk again. All that metal may not have dampened Tyler's spirits much, but he said it has made traveling through airports a little difficult.

"They had to swab my leg to make sure there were no bombs on the prosthetic," Tyler said.

He walks well now, but said he's looking forward to getting a more advanced prosthetic when he returns to the medical center in January.

Getting Tyler home was just one of several battles Kim and Tyler have faced since her son was flown home from Iraq. In an odd set of circumstances, the U.S. Army initially listed Tyler as deceased -- which, she said, they thought he was after the explosion. The mistake meant paychecks weren't getting to Tyler.

The pay situation was quickly rectified, Kim said, but that was just the beginning of her son's journey to recovery. It was rough, Kim Hall said, to be with her son through his recuperation, but she's no stranger to hospitals.

"Believe me, having four boys, we've had some in surgery," Kim Hall said. "This isn't our first trauma case … this isn't my first wheelchair experience. But this was definitely, by far, the most traumatic experience I've had to deal with."

A little R&R

Tyler said he'll spend 30 days at home, then it's back to Walter Reed for more therapy, a better prosthetic, and some tests to see if he will have any lasting effects from his brain injury. Kim Hall said doctors hope he'll finish his physical therapy by February or March. Part of that, Tyler said, includes getting a more advanced prosthetic leg.

When the physical effects of his six months of service in Iraq have been dealt with, Tyler said he'd like to return to school -- preferably Texas A&M -- for schooling as a petroleum engineer.

"Texas A&M has always been his dream," Kim said, adding that they spoke to representatives from the school during his stay in Washington.

Tyler said he's not quite ready to head to the university yet -- he plans to take a few classes at Mat-Su College beforehand to get adjusted to college.

Although his injuries meant an early retirement from the service -- a fact Tyler said he is sad about -- others in the Hall family have stepped into the line of duty before him. His grandfather served four tours in Vietnam, Kim Hall said, and his uncle is getting ready to head to Iraq. When asked if he was worried about his uncle's welfare, Tyler said not really.

"It is a hot spot, but usually, common knowledge will keep you out of a situation," Tyler said. "But sometimes, you'll be the right person at the wrong time. That was kind of our situation."

Tyler said the rest of his unit is still in Iraq, and he's looking forward to seeing them when they get home.

"I talk to them every know and then," Tyler said. "I know they were thinking about me -- and I was thinking about them."

Tyler said the rest of his unit is scheduled to be home after about a year of duty -- in late winter or early spring.

While he's in the Valley, Tyler said he was looking forward to spending time with his brothers, whom he hasn't seen since he left for Iraq about a year ago.

Kim, meanwhile, said she's just glad to be home, and to have Tyler home with her.

"Oh Lord yes, that's the best present by far," Kim said. She said she looks forward to spending time with family, and making a few new holiday traditions.

A wave of support

One new holiday tradition may have come in the shape of new friends. Upon hearing of Tyler's return home, several local veterans organizations called Charlie Huggins, the Alaska State Veterans coordinator, to find out how they could help. Along with help from the veterans community, the Halls have been adopted by a number of people around the area.

In addition to help from Guisinger and the Sunny Knik Chapel, Kim said Eileen and David Bostwick sort of adopted her sons while she was away, bringing meals and food, and even a Thanksgiving basket over the holiday. Even her pharmacist at Susitna Pharmacy pitched in, she said, sending her medication through the mail at no charge and, after Tyler returned home, contributing $100 to the bank account set up in Tyler's name.

Although Kim said she's reluctant to ask anyone for money, it's been a struggle to meet basic needs while taking care of Tyler full-time. She set the account up, she said, to help pay for things Tyler needs that will help make his stay more comfortable -- items that make her home more handicapped-accessible, she said. The account is set up at Northrim Bank, under account No. 7100362206. Contributions can also be made under Tyler's name, she said.

Meanwhile, Valley businesses are jumping on the bandwagon, Huggins said. Several local restaurants have offered free meals to the family, and he's working on getting movie tickets and free video or DVD rentals at Blockbuster as well. Those contributions are met and exceeded, Huggins said, by the personal support of local veterans.

"They're all taking a period of time, and their rank-and-file members are supporting the Halls," Huggins said.

Kim Hall said the family has received several phone calls from veterans groups, asking how they can help. Although the family has been very busy in the past few days, preparing for Christmas, she said they appreciate the calls.

"They've just been terrific," Kim said, "They've been reaching out to Tyler and offering honorary memberships. We've had many, many supportive memberships -- they've just been really terrific."

Tyler said he's received a hero's welcome by members of the veterans community.

"Almost everywhere I go, I get handshakes and thank-you's," Tyler said.

The personal support, Huggins said, has come from a variety of veterans groups, including AMVETS, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Vietnam Veterans. The Wasilla Veterans Center, Huggins said, has also been collecting Christmas gifts and money for the family. Anyone who would like to contribute, he said, can call him at (907) 428-6016, or contact the Wasilla Veterans Center at 376-4318.

Huggins said his job securing support for the family isn't over yet. He's working on getting the use of a passenger van that will allow the family to travel together -- along with Tyler's wheelchair, which he sometimes uses, in one vehicle, rather than the three-vehicle convoy they now use.

Kim Hall said after her boys graduated from high school and moved from her house, she bought a small pickup that would accommodate she and her dogs. Not long afterward, she said with a laugh, everyone started moving back. Now, when the family travels, she and Tyler take the pickup, and everyone else piles into their respective vehicles for the journey.

Tyler's return home is significant for the Valley veteran community. Tyler, Huggins said, is the first injured veteran from Wasilla returning home from Iraq, and it's given the groups a chance to pull together for support. It's an honor to do so, he said.

"It's so nice because they're such great men and women," Huggins said, "and it's an honor just to be able to shake their hand."

Still at war

President George W. Bush may have declared the war over in May, but soldiers continue to be deployed to Iraq and related conflicts at a brisk pace.

This month, according to information from the U.S. Army Magazine, it was estimated that numbers of troops in Iraq would peak at 130,000 this year, with about 105,000 to be stationed there next November.

Although accounts differ widely, it appears between 200 and 300 soldiers have died since May 1, with about 450 total casualties since the war began. About 2,500 soldiers have been wounded during that time, according to numbers from various sources.

According to the Department of Defense, the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, last week, reported decreases in the number of reservists on active duty, while the Air Port reported an increase. All told, according to DOD, 886 more reservists are now on active duty than last week. Nearly 180,000 reservists are currently on active duty, although not all those troops are serving in Iraq. Some are in Afghanistan, some in other areas and many are filling positions left empty on bases around the nation when battalions deployed.

Charlie Huggins, the Alaska state veterans coordinator, said several units from Alaska are still deployed overseas. The 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment out of Fort Richardson was recently deployed to Iraq, he said, and 20 members of the 210th Rescue Squadron, based at Kulis Air National Guard Base, returned the same afternoon as Hall, coming back from Uzbekistan.

For information about sending cards to troops stationed overseas during the holidays, go to the city of Wasilla lobby to obtain a card, which can be sent to members of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, on active duty in Iraq, or to wounded Alaska soldiers undergoing treatment at Walter Reed Medical Hospital in Washington, D.C. Several Christmas message programs are available on the Internet as well, and can be accessed through search engines.