NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Combat medics and a doctor from Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan disinfected and re-stitched sutures on the leg of Sayed Sharif, native from Tupak village, a former commander of an Afghan Border Police unit in the Kandahar Province.
Six months ago, Sharif returned to Afghanistan after living in Iran for 16 years and attended a police academy in Kabul. When he graduated, he became a 2nd Lt in the Afghan Border Police.
“In the past we didn’t have a stable government, but since Karzai was elected, we hope to have a stable government, that’s why I came back to serve my country,” Sharif said.
September 2009, Sharif was clearing out culvert with his men in the Kandahar province, when an anti-personal mine went off causing him to become an amputee. He quickly received medical attention and surgery from Canadian doctors in the Kandahar Province. After his surgery he relocated to his native village, Tupak.
When asked if he regretted his return to Afghanistan he simply replied, “I don’t regret my return to my country, I’m proud to serve my country and I lost my legs serving my country. If the ABP would take me back, I would be ready to work.”
PRT Nuristan medics came across Sharif during a civil assessment in the Tupak Village. Once they heard his haunting experience and examined his sutures on both legs, U.S. Navy Lt., Dr. Jennifer Dreiling, native from McLean, Virginia, recommended he come to Forward Operating Base Kala Gush for treatment on the wound on his left leg because it had started to open.
The doctor and her staff cleaned the wound and re-stitched sutures to prevent them from coming undone in the future. Dr. Dreiling commented, due to the fact that he lost his legs to an anti-personal mine, “I certainly have never seen anything like this, he’s lucky to be alive.”
Sharif will come back to FOB Kala Gush in two weeks for a follow up appointment.
NURISTAN, PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Dr. Jennifer Dreiling native from McLean, Virginia (LEFT), Airman 1st Class Destiney Dowdy, native from Russellville, Arkansas (CENTER) and Petty Officer 2nd Class Frank Garza, native from San Antonio, Texas (RIGHT), medics from the Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, disinfect and re-stitch sutures on the leg of Sayed Sharif, native from Tupak village in Nuristan, on Oct 22. Sharif was a former commander of an Afghan Border Police unit who lost both of his legs by an anti-personal mine while clearing a culvert in the Kandahar province. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)
NURISTAN, PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Dr. Jennifer Dreiling native from McLean, Virginia, a medic from the Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, re-stitches sutures on the leg of Sayed Sharif, native from Tupak village in Nuristan, on Oct 22. Sharif was a former commander of an Afghan Border Police unit who lost both of his legs by an anti-personal mine while clearing a culvert in the Kandahar province. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)
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