Rebuilding Warriors

Very Seriously Injured During Operation Iraqi Freedom

Jay Fondren's service in Iraq began in March 2004, where he led a front-line combat observation lasing team, directing close-air support and conducting reconnaissance and security operations. When bad weather grounded MEDEVAC helicopter flights, this unit of the 10th Cavalry's Charlie Troop escorted medical personnel out to wounded troops, before evacuating all of them to the Green Zone.

While serving in Iraq, SSG Fondren lost two comrades to sniper and roadside bomb attacks. "Over there, the mentality wasn't if you were going to get hurt, but when and how bad," he said. Then, on the day before Thanksgiving 2004, a roadside bomb shredded his patrol vehicle.

While SSG Fondren rode in a patrol near the Baghdad suburb of Sadr City, a platter charge skipped off the road and came up through the lower part of his body taking both his legs off. Both of his arms suffered severe shrapnel damage, which would eventually force doctors to amputate his right thumb.

Fondren remembers the attack and its aftermath – the mad dash across Baghdad with his legless body strapped to the hood of a Humvee. His last memories before blacking out were of being loaded onto the MEDEVAC helicopter. As he was beginning to feel weak he told the flight medic he did not know how much longer he would be able to talk to him. As he did the medic pushed some medicine into his intravenous line. The last thing he remembers was seeing his fellow troopers getting smaller as the helicopter took off.

When he first realized both his legs had been lost SSG Fondren's first thoughts were, "Okay, I don't have my legs anymore. No way to get them back now. Let's just get on with it."

During the immediate aftermath of his devastating injury, SSG Fondren's fellow soldiers shielded him from further injury by placing their own bodies and body armor between him and any enemy gunfire, while he was carried on the Humvee's hood through the dangerous streets toward the aid station.

At the aid station, a brigade chaplain came to SSG Fondren's side, and asked him questions about religion. Jay realized that the chaplain was trying to figure out if he was Catholic, so he could read him his last rites. But SSG Fondren abruptly interrupted him, by saying, "Sir, I'm not going to die here. I told my wife before I left I'd be back home."

Thousands of miles away, in Corsicana, Texas, Jay's wife Anne was shopping at Wal-Mart with Jay's sister when they got the phone call. "I automatically knew he was missing something," Anne said. "I just did. I cried for about 10 minutes, and then I stopped, because I knew we needed to call people, to ask them to start praying."

The daughter of missionaries, Anne said she too knew God would keep Jay alive. "I never thought he would die," she said. The family flew to Walter Reed AMC, and waited anxiously during the almost 3-week period that Jay was in a coma with his condition being touch-and-go.

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Anne was the first to see him. With injured young soldiers arriving at Walter Reed daily, she saw her share of horrific battle wounds. She said the sights prepared her for the reunion with her husband. "When I first saw him I didn't want his parents in the room," Anne said. "I wanted to be alone. I wanted to express whatever emotions I wanted to without having to be the tough Army wife."

When she saw him, she held his hand in hers and prayed. Jay said he was calm when he woke up. He said, "I didn't need to know why it happened. I know there's a God that does. You can "what if" it to death but it's not going to change anything." His faith, he said, had always been strong, but had never been tested so much as it was at that point.

SSG Fondren awoke from a coma at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (AMC) in Washington, D.C, on December 12, 2004. Along with the loss of his legs, SSG Fondren, age 24, suffered wounds and nerve damage to his right arm and hand. The recuperation from the devastating effects of the injuries was slow but steady. After nine months of what he describes as "exceptional care" at Walter Reed AMC he was retired from the military in October 2005. Now, on his way to a life changed forever, he came home to Killeen, Texas.

Once back at Fort Hood Jay was a special guest at a change of Command Ceremony for his old unit. During the ceremony, Jay received a Bronze Star Medal and an Army Commendation Medal. The citation for Jay Fondren's Army Commendation Medal states it was awarded "for meritorious achievement as a squad leader during combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq. His exceptional bravery enabled him to successfully evacuate a wounded soldier under intense small arms and Rocket Propelled Grenade fire. His actions reflect great credit upon himself, the Ironhorse brigade, and the United States Army." Jay was also presented the Bronze Star and Purple Heart during the Ceremony.

Jay's personal decorations include the: Bronze Star, Purple Heart (2nd Award), Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (5th Award), Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Non Commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal With 2 Campaign Stars, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Combat Action Badge.

Jay now works as a Supervisory Veterans Service Representative at the Waco VA Regional Office. Jay lives in McGregor with his wife Anne and their five boys. Jay enjoys hunting, fishing, archery and Scuba diving. They are expecting their 6th child in April. They are happy to announce Mae will be the most protected little sister on the block.

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Jeff Anderson
CEO/Founder, Rebuilding Warriors