America’s Finest [Update]

Information February 06 2006

— By CJ

[Update] If you read the comments, you’ll see where this update is coming from. Patriot Defenders Network is upgrading SGT Steve Marfill

I don’t do the “Doing Great Things” as much any more because I just don’t have the time nor the resources to keep up with it. I’m keeping the category because I’m sure I’ll find stuff to categorize there now and then. So, as I visit with these soldiers, I’m going to publish them under the new Category, “America’s Finest.”

SGT Steve Marfill

I went to Walter Reed today to meet with a soldier who was injured in a suicide bombing. SGT Steve Marfill was manning a static checkpoint in the Abu Ghraib district in December of last year (I believe it was the 12th, but I forgot to turn on my recorder). There were on an overpass checking vehicles and on the lookout for terrorists. The overpass they were manning was used frequently by the Iraqi Army (IA). They would drive their vehicles through it often.

The terrorists saw an opportunity. Either stolen or given to them by a sympathizer, the terrorists were able to obtain a vehicle that resembles the trucks driven through the checkpoint by the IA. They packed the truck with ball-bearings and other materials to create shrapnel and then hooked up their explosives and trigger for the device. They drove the truck towards the checkpoint. Because it resembled a friendly vehicle, the soldiers were slow to react.

The last thing Steve remembers was someone shouting “STOP THAT TRUCK” and his gunner began traversing the .50 Cal machine towards the terrorists. Instantly the truck exploded about 25 feet away from him. The explosion was so strong it blew a hole in the bridge they were on. The blast threw him back. As he was being thrown, he was able to grab the rear bumper of his HMMWV. He felt pain in his stomach and legs. Steve kept himself calm by insisting the wind was knocked out of him. He tried to pull himself up by his arm but wasn’t able to. He again reminded himself that he’s fine and just needs to calm down. Again, he attempted to pull himself up to his feet. His efforts were in vain.

It was at that moment that he looked down at his injuries. He pulled his ballistic vest away from his body and instantly blood was gushing from his stomach wounds. Shrapnel had torn through his stomach and right leg, tearing body parts and internal organs. One of his buddies came around the truck and dragged him to safety. He later picked him up and put him in the truck next to his gunner who was unconscious from the blast knocking his head into the .50 cal.

Before going to Iraq, Steve liked to power lift. he was about 225 pounds of mostly muscle. A very active guy by nature, he had studied to be a firefighter and wanted to join the SWAT team when his time in the Army was over. He’s not a soldier that was prone to sitting on the sidelines and letting life pass him by. He was scheduled to go to the Staff Sergeant promotion boards just weeks after he was hit. That board will have to wait.

Steve never once lost consciousness during the whole ordeal. Many soldiers lose hours, days, even months of their lives as they struggle to regain consciousness after such an attack. Steve says he was lucky just to be alive.

Steve is married to beautiful Shelly (I hope I spelled that right), from Yuba City, California, about 4 years ago, about the same time he joined the Army. It was there that she learned of her husband’s injuries. She received a call that told her he had been injured but it was just a stomach injury, nothing of the scale she would later see for herself. Her complaint is that they weren’t open with her when she got that initial call from Germany. Sensing that things were worse than they made them sound, she immediately made arrangements to be with her hero.

Steve still loves the Army, but being a young, newly married couple, all Shelly has known is Iraq. Being a tanker, there isn’t a whole he can do but train and fight. Unlike some jobs where you can go to a particular post and not have to worry about deploying, there isn’t any such animal for tankers. Every unit a tanker goes to is going to be a deployable unit. Naturally, Steve cares deeply about his wife having to endure any more suffering and is looking forward to being medically retired from the Army.

Steve is a great soldier and NCO. From out talk today, I gathered that he loves the Army and the soldiers he served with. He’s proud of the accomplishments he’s made but admits that it’s frustrating fighting a war where the successes and failures are difficult to gauge. Soldier in a combat zone don’t get beyond their specific scope of fighting. All they know is what they witness first hand on the battlefield. Some witness the worst humanity has to offer and some are privy to the many successes we have.

I told Steve about this week’s IED Roll-Up and impacts that have been made in Iraq. I mentioned some other successes we’ve been having over there and in this war on terror. He was excited to know that we’re going forward and not backwards. “More soldiers should be told about these things,” he said.

There was something about my visit that really distressed me. I asked him if anyone from his unit or Fort Irwin had come to visit him. He told me that his First Sergeant and Troop Commander had stopped by. I asked if the Squadron or Regimental commanders or sergeants major visited. No. Anyone from Fort Irwin leadership? No.

No one can tell me that the leadership at Fort Irwin has so much to do that they can’t take time out of the Ops Updates, Post Awards Ceremonies, and changes of command to visit a soldier that the unit sent to combat and was injured. It’s just bad leadership to ignore those paid a heavy price for this country. While Steve said it didn’t bother him that he hasn’t gotten visits, it bothers ME. Steve is just being humble and soldierly. I am appalled that they think so little of him. It’s not like there are 50 Fort Irwin soldiers at Walter Reed and visiting them all would be difficult.

Now, I’m not naive enough to think that this is being done intentionally. I know the Fort Irwin leadership pretty well and know they aren’t bad people. They may have a lot on their plates at the moment. After all, since Steve injury, the post has been preparing for all the 11th ACR soldiers to return with honor from Iraq. I just don’t think that is a good enough excuse to “forget” one of their own still trying to recoup from injuries sustained in combat.

Other than that, it was a very good visit and I hope to have many more I can post about. I’d like to do this about twice a month, but don’t hold me to it. I want to put faces to the stories we read about. “A soldier died today…” “Three soldiers were injured today when…” etc.

(24) Readers Comments

linda
02/06/2006 at 5:31 pm

CJ, thanks for doing this post. It’s great to see a face of a “nameless” soldier at WR. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cried while watching stories of injured soldiers on the “news”. It just breaks my heart. I bet if we had an address, we could fill his room with cards!
I like this idea and hope you’ll do more!

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Donna
02/06/2006 at 8:02 pm

Thanks CJ for that wonderful post. This hero should at least have some of the top brass visit him!

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dusgalan
02/06/2006 at 8:53 pm

CJ: That was an awsome story. It’s been said miracles happen in the strangest of places. You could just be that miracle worker, CJ! Let us know what comes about.
thanks
dusgalan of mt

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Machelle
02/06/2006 at 9:02 pm

Thanks for posting that! Steve and Shelly are both heroes!

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wordsmith
02/07/2006 at 1:09 am

CJ…what really sticks out, overall, is the love and compassion you have for your fellow soldiers. I think you made a difference in the lives of Sgt Steve Markhill and his wife Shelley (I decided to spell it the other way, just in case- so we got it both covered!). And you make a difference here, by telling us their story.

Thank you. As always….

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Mike Driehorst
02/07/2006 at 6:52 am

Wordsmith makes a great point. While your passion for the military men and women is evident, it’s good that you are not blind and not afraid to criticise where it’s justified.

One might see these types of stories in the papers and TV stations where soldiers are from, but really no where else.

One question still remains: What about Sgt Markhill’s injuries? It’s really none of our business, but since you posted about him, what about his recovery? It sounds as though he was hit pretty bad. Will he lose a limb, or will he recover to “normal”? More concerned than nosey.
Mike

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Anna
02/07/2006 at 7:42 am

Hi CJ,
Great post and I agree with Wordsmith (a habit I seem to get into from time to time! ) Your care and concern for your fellow soldiers comes shining through!
Thanks for posting about Sgt Markhill and his wife!

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Sabo
02/07/2006 at 7:45 am

CJ – Great post. Thanks again for visiting Steve and Shelly. They may not have had a visit from the top brass at Fort Irwin, but they had a visit from you which was very special. You are awesome!! Sabo

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Lauren
02/07/2006 at 8:36 am

Once a month I send out an envelope full of Get Well/Thinking Of You cards to a contact I have at WR and he gives them out to whomever doesnt get many visitors or any visitors.

I feel this is the least I could do compared to everything these soldiers are doing for me.

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Sharon
02/07/2006 at 8:41 am

Once again, CJ, you display the qualities which not only make you a caring human being, but an outstanding leader. I will keep the Sgt and his lovely wife in my thoughts and prayers and hope that the Army might one day recognize your leadership abilities in a more appropriate way!

Sharon from NY

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Chad
02/07/2006 at 2:06 pm

Lauren:

How do I get you some Get Well cards to hand out?

Chad

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Lauren
02/07/2006 at 2:14 pm

Chad,

Email me at MyWay716@aol.com and I will send you my home address.

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SK
02/07/2006 at 3:06 pm

CJ, thank you once again. Best wishes to Sgt. Markhill and his lovely wife.

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stacy lee
02/07/2006 at 3:18 pm

CJ thanks so much for the wonderful post. You have such a big heart for your fellow soldiers. This brought tears to my eyes, and yes where are the Commanders, etc. They should have already visited this HERO…

I will be attending the milblogging convention. I look forward to meeting you.

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Mr Bob
02/07/2006 at 4:33 pm

I hope to see an update to this post that the leadership did indeed visit this fine soldier.
thanks for the story.

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Eric
02/07/2006 at 5:35 pm

… you did a very, very good thing… I am sure he appreciated it incredibly… and thank you for doing it…

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Kimbal
02/07/2006 at 7:27 pm

Thanks for the story. Can we send emails to Steve and Shelly? If you see this, Steve, thanks for serving your country. We are so proud of you and wish you complete healing!

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Saoirse
02/08/2006 at 10:39 am

Thanks for posting this, It is good to put a face and name to the usually nameless.

If you can, let He and his wife know people are praying for them!!

God Bless~

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connie doggett
02/09/2006 at 7:40 pm

Steve and Shelly,

You may not think so, but you are a true American Hero. Is there a way to send e-mails to you and or address. I’d like to help others also.

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Sabo
02/10/2006 at 7:46 am

Steve, the soldier that CJ so eloquently wrote about, is but one of many soldiers, marines, airmen and sailors wounded in courageously defending all of us back home. There are many other soldiers (and families) with similar stories recovering at Walter Reed, Bethesda, Brooke, VA Hospitals all over the US, and others military hospitals. And not only are our brave troops inflicted with serious physical injuries, but statistics show that about 30% also suffer from PTSD, a much less visible wound, but very painful nonetheless.

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Steve & Shelly Marfill
02/11/2006 at 9:58 am

Hello everyone, we truly appreciate all of your support. we love receiving emails, so feel free to leave us some at shellbell519@yahoo.com. steve is doing wonderful. i know some of you were wondering what his injuries were. he received multiple shrapnel wounds to his stomach. leaving his tummy open for the last two months. he recently had his tummy closed and we are hoping for no infection. he had a serious nerve damage to his right leg, we are awaiting an appt with a specialist regarding this, along with a broken tibia on the same leg, he is finally out of bed and walking with a walker, he also received a deep shrapnel wound to his right shoulder, which is closing up nicely, although he has signifigant damage, we are also awaiting more test on that. we are hoping to be home with our loved ones on a thirty day leave with in the month. so thank all of you once again!! love Steve and Shelly Marfill

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Operation Homefront - Sacramento Inc.
04/06/2006 at 5:58 pm

A grateful California would like to salute Steve, Shelly and this website for sharing this story about America’s finest. Operation Homefront and its 900,000 military spouses salute you and all who serve.

Now it’s our turn to serve one of you. We’ll see you Sunday young man! God speed and God Bless.

http://www.patriotwatch.com for more on the homecoming.

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lindy
06/28/2010 at 5:16 pm

A GRATEFUL SOLDIERANGEL WOULD LIKE TO SALUTE YOU.WE DID THE HONOR FLAGS IN OREGON THIS WEEK JUST FOR MEN AND WONMEN LIKE YOU THAT OUR ARE TRUE HERO FOR YOUR BRAVER. STEVE & SHELLY . HOPE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE RECOVERD WELL FROM YOUR INJURED BYE NOW MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILT

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