Soldier vows life will go on despite injury

Soldier vows life will go on despite injury

By Staff Sgt. Cheryl Hackley
National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va. (7/16/2004) — Today, one can turn on the news and hear how many of America’s brave men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice, their lives, in the war on terrorism. That number is well over 800 and climbs higher on almost a daily basis. But there are also those unknown numbers of men and women who have returned from the war with injuries. Here is the story of one man, a Soldier who lost his leg in Operation Iraqi Freedom, but not his will to live.

Austin Philips was 20 when he joined the Army National Guard. He was working at a Wal-Mart distribution center loading and unloading trailers, but wanted to earn some extra money. He learned about the Guard from a friend, and in 1997 enlisted as a mortar Soldier with Charlie Co. 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry, 39th Brigade, Mena, Ark.

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