Comrades honor wounded warrior
By Kelsy Hustead
U.S. Army Garrison Baumholder Public Affairs Office
Sgt. Chad Rozanski couldn’t stand with his fellow Soldiers as they were honored during a Baumholder welcome home ceremony Dec. 6.
But that didn’t stop the wheelchair-bound 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, Soldier from joining his unit during the recognition event, thanks to the efforts of his comrades. Their efforts helped bring the recovering Soldier from BrookeArmyMedicalCenter in Texas to Baumholder.
Rozanski was driving an up-armored High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicle west of Ramadi July 2 in support of combat operations when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. The blast ripped the HMMWV in half throwing him from the driver’s seat.
Rozanski was pinned to the ground by his burning vehicle. A Soldier in a trail HMMWV used his vehicle as a battering ram to free him.
Soldiers called for an aerial medical evacuation. Once the helicopter arrived, Spc. Julian Tamay, one of Rozanski’s closest friends, pushed the medic out of the way so he could load him onto the helicopter.
Rozanski was moved to a combat hospital in Balad and then to Landstuhl after an initial assessment that he had suffered burns over 40 percent of his body. A few days later he was moved to BrookeArmyMedicalCenter for more extensive care at the Army burn center.
It was determined that Rozanski’s legs had to be amputated.
While reecovering as an outpatient at the San Antonio medical center, Rozanski let his unit mates know he wanted to attend the welcome home ceremony. They worked diligently to find a way to bring him back to Baumholder for the event.
“The 4-27th FA executive officer, Maj. Rick Bower, and the 2nd BCT executive officer, Lt. Col. Richard Anderson, vigorously pursued the possibility of official travel funding for our wounded warrior. Learning on Nov. 28, 2006, that 1st Armored Division and United States Army Europe were unable to support the endeavor, our Soldiers insisted we come up with something fast considering the amount of money it would take to bring both Rozanski and his wife Stephanie to Germany on short notice,” said Capt. Brian Gerber, Headquarters Battery, 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery commander.
“After consulting with the 2BCT legal advisers, we learned all the rules for voluntary donations so that we could consider them to bring Rozanski and his wife here,” he said.
“First we learned that the person responsible for collecting donations should be of lesser rank than Rozanski and that no person in leadership should ask for donations, since we did not want to give the appearance that people were expected to contribute. Since Tamay was such a close friend of his, even pushing medics off of his stretcher so he could be the Soldier that lifted him to the MEDEVAC chopper, it was natural that Tamay stepped forward to be the person to collect any voluntary donations.
“He approached fellow soldiers carrying a ‘Band of Brothers’ DVD case to put the donations in. Tamay said ‘That is what we are, a ‘Band of Brothers,’” said Gerber.
“In an hour and a half, Tamay had collected enough money for the Rozanskis’ airline tickets. Toward the end of the day a Soldier from the Combat Observation Lasing Team Platoon, Spc. Erik Butler, handed me $249. He said he and the guys from COLT Platoon had saved all of their POGS while downrange so that they could have a party when they returned,” said Gerber.
“POGS are paper disks with distinctive military images in the form of change that AAFES provides in five, 10, and 25-cent denominations in foreign theater operations due to the weight of coin change and other mission priorities,” he said. “Butler cashed them in and donated the money. Their money ensured that we could pay for lodging in a handicapped accessible room for the Rozanskis.
“Additionally, Soldiers from Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment, the maneuver company that Rozanski served with, also gave contributions that really put the funding over the top. We were able pay for food and allow his wife, Stephanie, an opportunity to see a little of Germany while they were here,” said Gerber.
“Chad has always thought of the Soldiers as his family. They treat each other like brothers and now for myself, I finally understand why,” said Stephanie Rozanski, Rozanski’s grade school sweetheart.
“The Army has been wonderful. If his fellow Soldiers had not done this [raised the money], we would not have been able to be here, she said.
Rozanski, of Greenbriar, Ark., and his wife listened as 1st Armored Division leaders spoke about the brigade’s accomplishments, remembered the wounded and fallen, and praised the community’s support during the Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-07 deployment.
During his stay Rozanski was recognized as he ‘fell in’ to battalion formation on Dec. 7. He was awarded a Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge and two Army Commendation Medals for his actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom and service.
“He was finally at home with his brothers,” said Gerber.
“There’s no place that I would rather receive this Purple Heart than right here with you guys. I have a memory of each and every one of you. You are like brothers to me,” said Rozanski
“It has been difficult to see him like this. He has been my strongest confidant through all of this. Chad is extremely stubborn and strong willed. After all, the name Chad means ‘warrior,’” said Rozanski’s wife.
“Since my life has changed so much, I really don’t have any long-term goals. I have to rethink about those now. But first, I plan to walk again,” said Rozanski.
“I am glad that he was able to return and see everyone. He is taking one day at a time and he has his priorities. It was important for him to close this chapter in his life and move on to future accomplishments,” said Capt. Matthew Hustead, Task Force 1-35 fire support officer.
“It also helps these guys to see me and how I am really doing,” said Rozanski. “I would really like to thank Master Sgt. Michael Morton and Spc. Brandon Moore who were with me during the incident. Without those guys, I would not be on this earth today.”