Story by Jim Murphy and Jennifer Parente
Iona College and the Students for Uniting Veterans listened closely to USMC combat veteran 1st Lt. Andrew Kinard’s harrowing and sobering account of his situation in Iraq when a road side bomb (IED) exploded directly under his feet with his team of marines by his side.
Burke Lounge in Spellman Hall was filled wall to wall with students, faculty, veterans and the public to honor a true war hero and recognize in real life, that our freedom is not free. The room rose to attention as the Iona Pipe band played a fine rendition of our country’s Marine Corps Hymn in honor of Lt. Andrew Kinard and the sacrifices he has endured. He then took the microphone and began revealing his experience which captivated the hearts and minds of the entire audience.
Andrew Kinard, a graduate of the US Naval Academy was deployed to the Al Anbar province in Iraq as an Infantry Platoon Commander during 2006. While on a foot patrol with 7 of his Marines, an IED detonated upon his stepping on top of it. The blast damage was so severe that it not only threw all 7 now injured Marines instantaneously to the ground but it left Andrew Kinard suffering massive life changing injuries from his abdomen down. The damage resulted in the loss of both of his legs at the hip and tremendous injuries to his lower body. He spent over a month in a coma and has since endured, fought through and healed from close to 74 surgeries. When he recalled what he was able to remember from that Sunday in 2006 he described it saying “it was like being struck by lightning”. He knows all his men suffered serious wounds. His medical Corpsman despite a injuries and serious concussion was going in and out of consciousness crawling around to each man to apprise the severity of their wounds. He realized that Lt. Kinard was the most grievously wounded and rendered first aid to him, which ultimately saved his life prior to being medevac from the field of battle. Kinard was then air lifted and aboard an aircraft that was best described as a flying ICU and on his way to Germany for what was to become the fight for his life. Andrew Kinard spoke about a “Marine from Brooklyn” who assisted him shortly after a rough landing into Germany. During that landing, a clamp on one of his severed arteries became dislodged and this Marine, although not a medical technician, was checking on the wounded aboard the flight when he came upon Lt. Kinard, and immediately sensed he was in trouble despite his being unconscious. He discovered the dislodged artery clamp and immediately applied pressure to the severed artery to staunch the loss of blood and called nurses for assistance. Kinards’s life was saved again as a result of “ a Marine doing what had to be done”.
The painstaking recovery began through months of hospitalization and a year and a half of physical therapy. Lt. Kinard resolved through his lengthy recovery that he was going to overcome his difficult circumstances and make an impact on the world by sharing his story. He is defining making a positive difference in life, paying homage to the people who have facilitated his miraculous survival.
The wounded warriors are men and women that possess the intestinal fortitude to forge on no matter how hard the fight becomes. They utilize humor and lean on one another and create a irreversible bond that keep one another strong and united. One of the first people Kinard met who made a great impact upon his life was “Timmy”, a Marine who was also wounded by an IED. In Timmy’s case, he had to have part of his brain removed, “ Like so many others” Andrew said. “One cant explain how important it is to just be able to laugh at oneself”. He described another friend “Jim” who had lost his feet during the Vietnam War as experiencing “ a paper cut”. It was an amusing way of comparing the severity of each Marine’s battle wounds. Kinard went on to address the fact that PTSD or brain damage occurs often among the 300,000 Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and he asked that the audience reach out to those with psychological and brain trauma due to the wars, and give them an opportunity to tell their story. He asked others to find compassion and understanding for our war heroes to be knowledgeable about their experiences. He understands that his injuries were life altering but never looks at himself as if “ he was injured worst of all”. One of his Marines who was wounded with him that Sunday in Iraq was “Scott”. Scott had suffered brain damage as a result of the percussion from the IED and five years later, that Marine took his own life. He pointed out that Scott had been more injured than he in the overall scope and picture of it all. “ There is a big difference between the World War II Veterans and today’s” he said, “Years ago they went over and came back. Today’s veteran is dealing with frequent deployments” this adds to the stress and dealing with the immortality that witnessing war brings. Kinard emphasized the importance of a support network for combat veterans to reach out to one another. He has been imbedded with the Wounded Warrior Project and appreciates what the organization provides to combat veterans returning home after serving their time. The return home and transitioning into every day life is extremely difficult after being discharged from active duty and more needs to be done to help our troops settle in. One of the best things that Kinard can do is bring light to what our combat vets need from their communities and what people can do to help, all through sharing his experience and continuing to heal.
Lt. Kinard was presented with an impressive Commemorative Document from Iona’s “Students Uniting for Veterans” by founder and President Maureen Cummins after she made some closing remarks.
Lt. Kinard opened the floor to respond to questions and comments within the audience regarding his experience behind the fighting lines in Iraq. After listening to Kinard’s remarkable story, United Veteran Memorial and Patriotic Association President Peter Parente asked him “ Why does it seem so difficult to contact returning veterans?” . Lt. Kinard expressed the opinion that the new social media such as Facebook and Twitter are the new avenues for reaching out to returning veterans. He also touched on the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs needing to work more closely together in order to make the transitions smoother for returning veterans.
All that were present to hear this true American heroes’ story were profoundly affected by what they learned vicariously through Lt. Andrew Kinard. We need to respectfully continue to say “Thank you” to patriots much like Kinard that are our neighbors, relatives, friends and acquaintances. Remember that Freedom is Not Free. Think of those who put their lives on the line keep our country the best and strongest country in the world.
Lt. Andrew Kinard has honorably been awarded the Purple Heart, Navy Achievement Medal with Combat “V” and the Combat Action Ribbon among many other medals and decorations.
While awaiting medical retirement from the Marine Corps, Lt. Andrew Kinard interned in the Office of Legislative Counsel at the Pentagon and served as a military fellow in the office of a US Senator. Since his retirement he has served on the board of directors with the Wounded Warrior Project, a national charity that seeks to honor and empower veterans disabled in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is currently attending Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School where he is completing a joint degree.
Photo credit Jen Parente