Jerral Hancock Jerral Hancock was pushing a tank in Iraq. A roadside bomb pierced the armor, breaching the inside. Jarral resides in Lancaster with his 2, beautiful kids.
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Striking Photos Of U.S. Veterans Who Survived A Decade Of War In The Middle East

updated

Wars never really finish, since although they could finish on the battlefield, so many veterans bring the war home and must live together for the remainder of their lives.

This depressing and sobering reality is accentuated by Photographers such as David Jay and James Nachtwey, who’ve been documenting young and badly wounded American troops after their return from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The events I have recorded shouldn’t be forgotten and should not be duplicated,”

writes Nachtwey, while Jay’s job, gathered into a string called Anonymous Soldier, was a finalist at the Portrait group to your Magnum Photography Awards 2016.

Speaking of his photos, Jay wrote they present “a chance to start a conversation about issues that we aren’t always familiar with…and problems that we’re accountable for. The pictures could be uncomfortable to the viewer. The truth isn’t always pretty. That is the reality. Let us tackle it.”

 

h/t: allthatisinteresting / lensculture / boredpanda

 

Bobby Henline was trapped within transport when he had been struck by a roadside bomb in Iraq. He had been the sole survivor.
“I must do it for them,” she says, talking of their friends she dropped in the assault.
Image source: James Nachtwey

On November 15, 2011, Michael was on foot patrol at the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.
Image source: David Jay

On April 3, 2013, Matt was wounded while downloading an IED website on Kandahar.
Image source: David Jay
Daniel stepped in an IED, dropping one leg and crushing another.
Image source: David Jay
Marine CPL Christian Brown in the Walter Reed Medical Center. On Dec. 13, 2011, Christian was directing his group on foot patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan when he broke on an improvised explosive device. Both of his legs were blown away- one over the knee, another under the hip. Only four days before, under heavy enemy fire, Christian had transported a mortally wounded Marine nearly 1,000 feet into a hovering helicopter.
Image source: David Jay

Army combat medic Sergeant Adam Hartswick dropped his legs and suffered a brain injury whilst treating wounded troops in Afghanistan. He’s in virtual-reality therapy, and it has learned to walk.
Image source: James Nachtwey
Army Corporal David Bixler lost both legs while serving in Afghanistan.
Image source: David Jay
Retired Army Captain Wayne Waldon missing a leg in Baghdad, Iraq. Seven decades later, he not only walks, but is a flexible snowboarding champion. “The prosthetic leg does not feel trapped to me anymore,” he states. “It’s become a part of me”
Image source: James Nachtwey

Joel, now 26, was hurt in Iraq at age 20. Severely burned, blinded, a leg dropped and above 90 surgeries afterwards. Joel had this to say: “Looks are deceiving … what resembles a half empty glass is really three-quarters complete”.
Image source: David Jay
That is Navy Seal, Bo Reichenbach. He was wounded on July, 17th 2012 at Afghanistan.
Image source: David Jay

Retired Navy hospital corpsman Jose Ramos missing an arm at an Iraqi rocket attack. He hopes to take part in the 2016 Paralympics. “Running is exactly what I do to unwind,” he states.
Image source: James Nachtwey

SSG Shilo Harris resides in Houston. Shilo was badly burnt on February 19th, 2007 with a road side bomb estimated at 700 pounds. He dropped three guys from a group of 5. Just Shilo and his driver survived the explosion.
Image source: David Jay

Tomas Young enlisted in the military two days following the 2001 September 11th attacks. Five days later being sent into Iraq, he had been shot in the back whilst riding in an unarmored vehicle in Sadr City, leaving him paralyzed. He expired in 2014 (approximately a year and a half following this photograph was taken) because of complications from his injuries.
Image source: David Jay
Cedric King dropped both of his legs into an IED at Afghanistan. His daughters talked him into thinking swimming, and from there that he completed the 2014 Boston Marathon in just over six hours finished a Half Ironman race, and also the nyc marathon. He’s also a motivational speaker.
Image source: James Nachtwey
Army staff sergeant Allan Armstrong was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan four occasions. He’d only completed training when a bike crash took his own leg. He has since positioned first at the 2014 Warrior Games at the 100 and 200-meter sprints.
Image source: James Nachtwey

On June 8, 2013, in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, Major Matt was shot together with five others from a part of the Afghan National Army. The bullet severed his femoral artery causing the amputation of the leg.
Image source: David Jay
Marissa Strock was injured when her car was destroyed by an IED buried at the street.
Image source: David Jay
On November 12, 2011, military’s first lieutenant Nicholas was badly wounded by an IED while on a foot patrol at Panjwaii, Afghanistan. After inquiring Nicholas for his permission to post these pictures, this was his answer: “The one thing which I need to move on is that: Losing limbs would be similar to losing a fantastic friend. We wish we might still be with them, however, it was not ‘in the cards’. Then we get up, don’t forget the great times, and thank God for whatever we’ve left. “
Image source: David Jay
First Lieutenant Jason Pak On Dec. 13, 2012, was on a foot patrol at Zangabad, Afghanistan when an IED exploded. The explosion took Jason’s legs (and also part of the hand) but it still couldn’t take his soul.
Image source: David Jay

Bobby was hit by incoming artillery, sustaining burns 60 percent of the entire body. He’s pictured with his daughter Layla
Image source: David Jay

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