Summer - United States Special Operations Command

A 11 year old boy whose tibia continuedgrowing after a below knee amputation. Heoriginally had his right great toe amputateddue to infection. A year later his right foothad to be amputated due to infection. A fewmonths later he received a BKA. His familychose not to make the three day travel toKabul for any more surgeries so they washedhis bandages for two years while the tibiacontinued growing and punched through hisskin. An 18D whose habit was to inspect andredress any bandages he saw found thisstump. He coordinated to have the boy andhis father flown to Bagram where he was operatedon by American surgeons. Threemonths later the boy was fitted for a prostheticleg. A year later he was seen again,walking fine, no infection and probably thehappiest Afghan in Paktika Province.Photo courtesy of Victor AndersenWhile watching vehicles outside of a Shura meeting in PaktikaProvince, Afghanistan, an 18D treats fresh wounds on a little girl whorefused to identify who had beaten her up.Photo courtesy of Victor AndersenA 5-year-old boyhad been burnedwhile filling hisfamily’s woodstove.He was treated fivedays in a row by an18D doing “TailgateSickcall” inOrgun, Afghanistan.Photo courtesy ofVictor AndersenPhoto Gallery127