WOUNDED WARRIOR?

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Al Schneider
  • Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The article "Comeback Kid" (Summer 2012 Torch, page 4) refers to 1st Lt. Ryan McGuire as a "wounded warrior." Yet, he was injured in a boating accident, not in contact with an armed enemy.

In accordance with Air Force Instruction 34-1101, 3.3.2., "The definition of a wounded warrior is any Airman who has a combat or hostile-related injury or illness that may require long-term care or a medical or physical evaluation board to determine fitness for duty. This includes a combat or hostile-related injury or illness resulting from hazardous service or performance of duty under conditions simulating war or through an instrumentality of war."

Please believe me that I'm not attempting to say anything bad about the article or the lieutenant. But I have a service member/amputee who sustained injures from a landmine in Afghanistan, and the question was raised. Your article generated a lot of conversation within the community. This is a good thing.