Another Battlefield

On March 27, 2006, Staff Sgt. Jay Wilkerson did what most soldiers do on their downtime while deployed: He watched movies, grabbed a bite to eat, and hung out with his best friend, Robert Hernandez. The next day's mission would be like the other 800 he had been on with the Multinational Security (Transition) Command, better known as the Rough Riders. The Rough Riders routinely escorted generals to forward operating bases across Iraq and while there trained Iraqi soldiers.

At 7 p.m. on March 28, 2006, a month short of going home, Wilkerson was the tactical commander and Hernandez was a driver in a six-vehicle convoy that would make its way back to the green zone from Fallujah. This road in Habbaniyah was unforgiving, because the insurgents often attacked coalition forces. The convoy would make their trip down the same road that they had been hit on earlier that morning.

"We were always trained never to take the same route. We told General Bulger that, but he insisted that we go back the same night, the same way," said Wilkerson. "I was in the second Humvee, and the general was in the third. We kept our intervals, but they timed us just right. They waited all day for us; they knew we were coming back," Wilkerson said, shaking his head.

While Wilkerson was on the radio, everything went to hell - and fast.

"An IED went off and hit the rear door. That explosion killed my best friend, taking his upper body out the door (and) leaving his lower body in the truck. We then got hit by two RPGs. It blew the passenger door off. The driver had a hole in his back. From that (explosion) I sustained a traumatic brain injury, C-5 fracture in my back, tinnitus, multiple facial injuries, and 80 percent loss of vision in my left eye due to the detached retina. The best thing is we managed to kill about eight insurgents. The last thing I recall is hearing screaming, and then I blanked out."

Wilkerson went in to a coma and later awoke at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. After some time he was sent to Palo Alto Veterans Administration Hospital's brain injury rehabilitation unit.

Wilkerson shared with me the struggles and accomplishments he has experienced while there.

"When I was inpatient it was hard. I had to start all over, meaning learning how to talk, even concentrating on getting dressed. As you see, I have a stutter. I can't multitask, which is frustrating. With this brain injury, it is like being a grown man in a six-year-old body. I didn't like the fact that I couldn't leave the property here. I felt like a prisoner, but that's not the case now.

"The group of guys I was with really isolated themselves; they just didn't want to be around anyone.

"Being an outpatient I deal with other things. I don't like being around crowds of people. I always feel like I am in Iraq. I am always doing my 5s and 20s, always looking around, seeing if there is anyone suspicious. I watch people too closely; I am always on guard. When I come here and some doctor doesn't know what is going on with me I get upset. I just can't tolerate someone that doesn't know what the hell they are doing," he said.

Wilkerson's road to recovery has been long, but he works every day to take on life and its new challenges. He says that his love of music and writing poems has helped him in his healing as well as his two children, who give him the strength to never quit. As for the Army, he looks toward his retirement and knows it will be great. Wilkerson learned a great deal while serving and being deployed. He may have lost his best friend, Hernandez, in Iraq, but he won't let his spirit fade.

Wilkerson was awarded two Purple Heart medals in April 2006 for the injuries he sustained, and on Sept. 6, 2007, he was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service in Iraq.

Day by Day

By Jay Wilkerson

The strength of my heart is in the forgiveness of life. An abundance of determination to do well and achieve for myself the worth of my soul. To be the way I used to be is an "Honor," for truly I'm an American Soldier; and a man truly blessed. I believe in this country we as Americans live in from state to state; I dream of being free of Hatred and terrorism. And I put my life on the Line for this country, and in return I'm still alive and Day by Day I feel peace.