Day 8 - Sergeant Josh Fruen

Sergeant Josh Fruen: Army 1997-2004. 19D Cavalry Scout, 2D Brigade Recon Troop, 4^th Infantry Division.

Hometown: Arlington, TX

Birthday: August 4^th

Interests: Softball, Baseball, Outdoors

“I’m proud . . . [I’d] go back in a heartbeat.” – Josh Fruen

Josh was deployed in 2003 to the Sunni Triangle of Iraq. While there, Intelligence reports identified a building in which Saddam Hussein was hiding. Josh’s unit was sent on a night mission to cordon the building. They convoyed toward the building along a canal road. The truck Josh was riding in flipped over and rolled into the canal, top down in the water.

The amount of gear that soldiers wear and the difficulty of removing seats belts makes it tough to get in and out of the tight cabs of tactical vehicles. The disorienting effect of being under water at night makes it worse. Josh couldn’t free himself and drowned, trapped in the vehicle. Miraculously, fellow soldiers pulled him out and medics were able to revive him.

Josh was back to work the next day.

He started to exhibit symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) while deployed. Later, he was diagnosed with a brain injury. After he returned home, a “Warriors to Work” coordinator in Washington introduced him to Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). Josh says he joined the TRACK program for support, direction, and help on “how to get back into life.” He wants to study Criminal Justice and go into law enforcement.

When asked about his country, Josh says that ours is the “Greatest nation in the world – it’s home.”

Visit the Wounded Warrior homepage.