SPC. James Kiklis - Age 24

My name is SPC James Kiklis. I am from Ft Lauderdale, Florida and I am 24. I joined the Army in December of 2003. I am a CAV Scout and was stationed at Ft. Carson, Colorado. In August 2004, after basic training, I was assigned to the Eagle Troop, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. I was at Ft. Carson for a few months before we got deployed to Iraq on March 06, 2005...

I was stationed in northern Iraq, in the city of Tel Afar.  I was involved in many missions and am lucky to be alive. On June 16, 2005 I was in a Bradley and got hit with a big VBIED. Three days later I was on the ground and about 20 feet away another IED went off. Then on June 26, 2005, I got shot in the stomach and the leg. I was raiding a house as the lead man. I eventually came to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, DC. I was in the hospital for about 4 months. And have been back in the hospital many times since being discharged. I've had  25 surgeries.  I am still at WRAMC continuing my rehab.