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Alumnus Wounded in Iraq
Thu, 12/13/2007 - 11:54am
We've just been informed by his family that SSGT. Jonathan Grundy (Class of 1994) has been wounded in Iraq. He is with the 82nd Airborne Div.This is his third tour in Iraq. He is currently in Germany but will hopefully be flying to Walter Reed tomorrow.
His father asks that we keep Jonathan in our thoughts and prayers in the days ahead.
Sun, 01/06/2008 - 4:17pm
#1
Alumnus Wounded in Iraq
Cpt. Benson, thank you for the update. I am glad to hear John is up in spirits. A shame that he will lose sight in one of his eyes. Make sure you thank him for his dedicated service for our country.
Sun, 01/06/2008 - 10:59am
#2
Alumnus Wounded in Iraq
I have been in contact with Jon's dad, and hope to visit sometime this coming week.
Here is an update from Jon's dad:
Quote:
I don't know what you were told regarding his wound, but he was leading a combat patrol (he's a scout platoon sergeant) in the Diyala River valley on 11 December when he took an AK47 round to the face. The bullet cut across the upper nose and entered the left side of his face. It first shattered the orbital floor below his left eye, then hit the upper left jaw, fracturing it in, I believe, three places. In the latter area, it also cut the facial nerve on that side.
The good news, as articulated by each surgeon who worked on him, was that the hit was "a miracle". Had Jon's head been turned just a half inch differently, he'd have lost his life. As it was, the damage was extensive, but he lived.
The worst news was only discovered during his second surgery (the ENT surgery to rebuild his face was almost 11 hours, then the second surgery, by the eye team, went 5 hours the following day--all at Walter Reed). Blood in the eye had obscured the extent of the damage, and the eye team only discovered during their surgery that the hydrostatic shock of the round had, essentially, blown a hole in the lower rear of the eye. The eye could be saved as a living, but not a seeing, organ. As you can easily envision, this has heavy professional implications. Jon will never lead troops in the field again, and never jump out of airplanes again. He'll be facing a medical board for retention on active duty. He has some heavy decisions to make.
The very good news is that his sense of humor is still there, and his determination. Apropos of humor, his first words to me after the wound were: "Just wanted you to know, Dad, I'm not really trying to compete with Grandpa for Purple Hearts--he got four in WWII, but one's enough for me!"
Thu, 01/03/2008 - 5:29pm
#4
John
If there is anyway to contact his family and let them know about our offer - that would be fine. Our door is always open to anyone who needs to walk through.
Wed, 01/02/2008 - 5:51am
#5
Re: His family
paigebeck wrote:
I do not know this past cadet; we live in Centreville, VA (Fairfax) Does his family live near by? Do they need transportation, a meal, a pillow to rest their head? Please contact us if we can be of any help to this family.
Paige, the last I knew, Johns family lived around the VA Beach area, or out towards that direction.
Mon, 12/31/2007 - 10:33am
#6
His family
I do not know this past cadet; we live in Centreville, VA (Fairfax) Does his family live near by? Do they need transportation, a meal, a pillow to rest their head? Please contact us if we can be of any help to this family.
Sun, 12/23/2007 - 2:57am
#7
Alumnus Wounded in Iraq
Sorry to hear about John. He was probably one of the best guys I met at FUMA. Please keep us informed of his condition and if there is anything we can do to help.
Our Upper School Chaplain, CPT James Benson, is planning to take some cadets up to Walter Reed in the coming days to visit. We will give an update when we get a bit more information. Thank you for your prayers and concern.
CPT Dan Thompson
Dir of Communications / Webmaster
Fork Union Military Academy
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