SGT. Brian Johnston - Age 23

Assigned to Charlie Company 1st Bat 3rd Marines.

We were riding on top of an AAV (Amphibious Assault Vehicle) going into Fallujah for an assault. An IED went off 50 feet to my front, which was the left side of the AAV. When the IED blew up, I caught shrapnel in my right arm and right leg. I lost feeling immediately in my arm and I could feel blood running down my leg. I also took shrapnel to my left arm and face. I rolled into the AAV, bleeding badly and had to wait until we could get outside and get medical help.

The blast was so severe; it twisted the track to the point where the ramp would not go down. We were able to get out through the single door in the back of the AAV. One of the Marines had to help me get out of the back door.

Two corpsmen tied tourniquets around my arm and leg while other corpsmen went to work on the other injured Marines. All the while the rest of the platoon were returning fire.

A military ambulance eventually arrived and transported us to a nearby hospital. Once they realized my injuries were more severe, I was again transported to another medical station. I was put on the table, put to sleep and I woke up 12 days later to find out my right leg and right arm had been amputated. I also suffered nerve damage in my left leg from the knee down. I've undergone 10-plus surgeries.

On November 9, 2004 I was transported to Lansthul Army Medical Center in Germany, and on November 12 to the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. I was moved to WRAMC on December 20, where I am currently continuing my recovery. I expect to be at WRAMC for a minimum of six more months.

I received my purple heart from Assistant Commandant General William Nyland of the United States Marine Corp on November 23, 2004. 

Pieces Of Brian
A Year In The Life Of A Stubborn, Stoic, Solitary Marine Who Gave More Than His Limbs To The War
October 30, 2005
By JIM FARRELL, Photographs By BRADLEY E. CLIFT

Click here to read the full story, published in the Hartford Courant.