THANK YOU To Hunter Anderson Who Currently Serves In The Military - But Took A Gunshot While Serving

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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Date: Nov 11 2021 1:07 PM

DOTHAN:   Dothan’s own, Hunter Anderson was shot on May 7, 2019, while fighting in the war for the United States of America in Afghanistan, took a bullet during an ambush attack from a Taliban Fighter with a AK-47.

On May 29, 2019 the following article was printed and was Hunter’s story.

Hunter continues to serve his country in the United States Military.

THANK YOU Hunter for your sacrifice and service to the United States of America and fighting for our freedom.

HUNTER ANDERSON SHOT WHILE IN AFGHANISTAN 

May 7, 2019

Most of Hunter Anderson’s life I have known “of him.” Would often times see Hunter and his parents and a brief chat of me standing at some restaurant.

While I have known of Hunter it was not until Monday that I ever had the opportunity to really talk to Hunter and get to know him.

HUNTER ANDERSON WAS SHOT WHILE FIGHTING FOR THE U.S.

On May 7, 2019 Hunter Anderson, while fighting in a war for the United States of America in Afghanistan, took a bullet during an ambush attack from a Taliban Fighter with a AK-47.

Hunter was attached to the Special Forces Team in the United States Army. While the third man in a line, his squad was ambushed. Hunter went to the ground after being shot by a AK-47 in the leg. The bullet entered the leg and exited the buttocks.

Hunter never felt the bullet go through but heard the bullet snap through his leg.

On the ground, while still under automatic weapon gunfire and grenades, Hunter tried to move but his left leg would not move. In like two seconds Hunter was in extreme pain. EXTREME PAIN.

With Hunter was a Senior Medic. Hunter had trust in his fellow soldiers and knew “they” knew their stuff. But the fellow soldiers were under attack and had to shield themselves and take out the enemy before they could help Hunter.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR THOUGHTS RIGHT NOW? 

Hunter’s thought’s, wondering if this is going to affect my re-enlistment? Hunter never thought of the fact this injury was life threatening.

ROLL HUNTER

One person hollered to Hunter to roll to me…roll to me.

Hunter could not.

Hunter was laying face down, could not raise his head to see what was happening and was in the most severe pain you can imagine. All the time 40 mm grenades were flying from grenade launchers.  Just like you see in the movies, but Hunter Anderson’s was real life.

Hunter Anderson knew his team had to take the enemy first before they could ever help him. The Taliban fighter that ambushed Hunter was killed.

Finally through all of the pain, gunfire, grenades, and intense gunfire, Hunter Anderson was able to get enough strength to roll. He rolled leaving a stream of blood but finally making it to roll out of the road and into the poppy field where few others were.

Through the  most pain ever, in the field and not in a medical setting, Military Medics were treating him. Not in a hospital but in a field. Not necessarily with all of the medical procedures you would follow in a medical facility setting. In the field you have to improvise.

With the help of two soldiers and Hunter’s strength, Hunter would hop on one leg until he could no more. A break would be taken and then the journey would continue.

The Afghan got him some water. The Afghan soldier, multiple Afghans helped carry him out of the poppy field.  You will see a picture with the Afghan with Hunter’s blood. The Afghan medic helped the Special Forces Medic treat Hunter.

Hunter was enduring the most incredible pain imagined, drug free. Grit your teeth together and endure it.

Finally a point was reached where “some” calmness. The medic was able to then give Hunter something for pain.  A blanket was needed but a trip to the other qalat to get a blanket for Hunter. It was a Afghan who went and got the blanket.

The medical helicopter was one hour travel time. The helicopter was able to land in a small opening, but were under gunfire.

Green Berets converged on the site to set up security for the helicopter. Another gunfight had erupted. A RPG hit right next to the helicopter before take off. A Green Beret took some shrapnel from the blast and still fought on.

Finally Hunter was in the helicopter. As it began to lift off a high powered machine gun began firing towards them. 

AGAIN…this is what “we” see in the movies. But this was no movie. This was the United States of America in active war ( TODAY ).

This is real life and a Dothan born Dothan raised, Houston Academy student was right in the middle. Not as an actor but in real life.

OK…I said Hunter is the son of Larry and Sandy Anderson. Both great parents who love and cherish every day with Hunter. The following raises no doubt one thing he has been taught by his dad Larry…being tight!

The medic went to cut Hunter’s shirt. Hunter went…WAIT!!!!! Do  not cut this shirt I am shot in the leg…I bought that shirt…I can take it off but do not cut the shirt I bought!!!!

After about a 30 minute helicopter flight, they made it to base in another district but still within the Helmand Province.

Then another flight in helicopter with no windows. This flight would take Hunter to Kandahar. Hunter was strapped down from head to toe. That flight was scary. Hunter felt sliding around in the flight feeling like he was about to slide out of the bird.

Hunter was greeted in Kandahar by ranking officers. A General presented Hunter with a PURPLE HEART.

Hunter remained at Kandahar Base for 24 hours. Then on a plane to Germany.

When Hunter was told he would be flown to Germany he said NO… NO…he wanted to remain and back to the field.  Of course they would not let him.

At the first point, the FOB in Helmand Province,  Hunter was greeted by his platoon members of his unit as he arrived for treatment.

 At the first point of this journey, the FOB in Helman Province, Hunter was told to call his parents. The time of the call was a time his parents would be asleep. When he called Hunter’s mom Sandy answered the phone. Hunter said he had some good news, he could call back, sorry he woke them up. His mom asked did she need to also get his dad on the phone and Hunter said yes.

Realize…by this time they had some strong pain medication administered to Hunter. When mom and dad were on the phone he said good news, your grandchildren’s college is paid for…then telling them he had gotten shot.

Probably 10,000 miles away from your child and he has been shot. It is good news it is your son on the phone telling you he has been shot. But the mental agony for mom and dad, your son is 10,000 miles away and has been shot. Nothing you can do, you can not pick the health care providers, the surgeons, the medical teams… this is where TRUST and FAITH kicks in.

Realizing Hunter was under heavy med’s and rambling his Squad Leader took over the conversation with mom and dad.

After the three surgeries in Germany Hunter was then flown to Walter Reed. The military arranged all flight details for mom and dad to fly to see Hunter.

Hunter will soon leave Walter Reed and go to Tampa Florida for rehab. It is hunter’s goal to be able to return to the squad.

AREA HUNTER WAS AT

Hunter was in the bad of the bad area. There are some good people there, people who want freedom’s but not freedom to come to the United States, just not being shot over teaching your children to read and write.

Also there are the worst of the worst people there. Some very mean people there.

We tend to forget, the United States of America is at war. Every day, every hour there are men and women in the battle field risking their lives for the United States of America.

TRAINING KICKS IN

From this point Hunter and I had a lengthy conversation. Almost one hour and a half, and 12 pages of notes.

While I have seen Hunter and had brief conversations with him, I gained inspiration and values from the conversation with this 23 year old young man. Nothing in the conversation was about Hunter or poor Hunter, I have been shot.

What I learned was a determined young man with goals in his life. A young man who had trained, trained hard for the military slogan “ BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE”.

Hunter worked at the training and eager to listen, learn and follow directions. That earned Hunter a place to go out on Special Ops Missions. A great achievement for the regular National Guard infantryman.

Hunter Anderson had no list of entitlements. A belief that is if you want to do something, do it! Do not complain, you signed up for the job, now do it.

That being in the Army was a lifestyle that training taught you to follow orders, stay motivated, be disciplined. A good leader is someone who had to follow one time. He was trained to be a soldier and worked to use that training in fighting for the United States of America.

Hunter’s determination is based on values taught by his mom and dad. Hunter’s education at Houston Academy and Auburn University. Hunter’s training in the Military.

Hunter trusted the soldiers he was with and knew without a doubt they knew their stuff.

Never once in the time Hunter was under gunfire, shot, enduring intense pain, automatic weapons and grenades, can not pick up his head, can not walk, did Hunter ever think of giving up. LOL…just the opposite, will this affect my reenlistment?

THE PEOPLE OF AFGHANISTAN  

It is hard for me or for any of us to really get a clear mental picture of Afghanistan. The reality is there are good people there. No desire to come to the United States, but a desire for freedom.

We can not imagine the poverty level these people live under. We can not imagine the mud homes they live in.

They just want to be free.

But then there are people there who will kill in an instant. Some really, really evil and mean people.

HUNTER ANDERSON 

Probably one of the most enjoyable conversations that I have had the opportunity to ever experience. A very inspirational young man who took a bullet for you and I.

A young man with values, self driven, determination. A young man with ethics, honesty , desire of service to others. A young man never questioning the fellow soldiers or their ability. A young man who never felt he deserved entitlements. A young man who worked towards goals and was determined to meet and exceed those goals.

Hunter was appreciative of the Purple Heart, But his description of it, the meaning is I have a cool story.

Indeed Hunter does have a cool story. But what Hunter has, apparently before the Purple Heart, is a cool story. The Purple Heart, the taking a bullet, added a chapter to that cool story.

But what I learned is, Hunter Anderson has a cool story about life. About what a person can achieve when they set goals and objectives and work towards those goals and objectives. What I saw was someone motivated to train and follow that training. Someone that could pattern their brain to think of the total picture and not one on self because he was shot, in pain, under gunfire, not able to return fire or run for cover. A cool story of how a young man endured the pain and danger of bullets flying, and survived.

What I saw was a young man with a great inspirational story about what anyone can do when they set goals and objectives, willing to follow orders without complaint…willing for the time to TRAIN…TRAIN…TRAIN.

A person not satisfied with just training. Hunter made sure he joined a unit that was going to be deployed. A young man willing to sacrifice in order to serve his country.

Cool story with a Purple Heart. I say a cool story before the Purple Heart.

Outside of our world, our circle, outside of the average American’s day to day life, there are far worse things going on. And there is still a war going on with young men and women of the United States of America fighting for freedom. Everyday.

 

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