Staff Sergeant Jason Chambers joined the United States Army at 18. He liked to tell everyone he was following in the footsteps of his older brother- Steven- and wanted to serve his country, but in reality, he was more driven by a burning desire to seek vengeance against the terrorists that had taken Steven's life.
Ten years later, Chambers would have no idea if he had been able to kill the men that had put together and planted the IED that killed his brother, but it didn't matter. He was on his third tour of duty, this time in Kandahar province, when his platoon uncovered a bomb-making set up. They were attacked almost immediately upon the discovery.
While they had killed most of the enemy and taken several prisoner, it was not without casualties. Chambers had lost his Bravo team leader, and several of his soldiers had been injured. Most would return to the field eventually, but several would not. Chambers was one of those that were unlikely to fully recover from his injuries.
Shrapnel from a grenade had buried itself in his spine, while the concussion from it had torn his right arm out of its shoulder socket, destroying tissue and bone in the process. He had also caught two bullets- one in his right knee and another in his left arm that had traveled up his radius and shattered his elbow. The round in his elbow had been smaller, but the bullet that struck his knee was from a machinegun chambered in 7.62x54. It was a miracle that the doctors had been able to keep it attached, and it was still questionable if he would ever be able to use it again.
Grateful to be alive, but furious at being taken out of the fight, Jason Chambers has a long road ahead of him to recover. His physical injuries may heal, but the scars on his heart and mind were formed even before he had been in combat.
