On Nov. 9, 2004, just three months into his Iraq tour, Michael Smyre was traveling in a Humvee armored military vehicle through Fallujah at 3:30 a.m. when insurgents threw a rocket propelled grenade at his vehicle.  The grenade pierced the armor on the vehicle and landed near Smyre’s feet.

“I jumped — if I hadn’t jumped it would have taken off the lower part of both legs,” he said.

Smyre is no longer able to serve in the U.S. Air Force, a job he intended to make a career of.  Now Senior Airman Smyre said he has a new mission, to help other soldiers cope with the pressures of war as a counselor, so they won’t face as many hardships as he did when he came home.

On Jan. 29, American Legion Post 48 awarded Smyre a $500 scholarship to help him pursue a master’s degree in social work from Appalachian State University at the Hickory Metro Higher Education Center.

After he completes his degree, Smyre said he hopes to become a counselor with the Department of Veteran Affairs in Charlotte.

“I know how soldiers feel when they come home,” he said.  “Hopefully once I become a licensed counselor, I can help these soldiers.”

Smyre said having been a soldier will allow him to help soldiers in a way professional counselors can’t, because unlike them, he’s been through combat situations and understands what soldiers go through mentally and physically.

His desire to help his fellow soldiers is deeply rooted in his own struggle to adapt to civilian life after he was sent home and eventually labeled “a disabled veteran” at the age of 27.

“Civilian life is hard,” Smyre said.  “It still is. You’ve always got someone who wants to hear your story. The hero’s stories are never told — the guys that die.  Here I am. I’m still here.”

Smyre’s military tour in Iraq began on Aug. 4, 2004 when he left his wife Misty and their three children for Fallujah.

His title was Senior Airman in the 118th Air Support Operations Squadron of the U.S. Air Force. Smyre said his job was to call in close air strikes by relaying coordinates of enemy troops to headquarters so U.S. pilots could bomb them.

Smyre said when he was attacked the blast knocked him unconscious for three to five minutes as metal shrapnel splintered into his left foot and right leg.  One piece of metal in his foot cut to the bone, he said.

He was transported to a combat hospital where they stabilized him and checked the severity of his wounds.  Smyre said he was then taken to Camp Fallujah to recuperate.

“My comrades were out there fighting and I’m seven to eight miles away.  I felt guilty I couldn’t help them,” Smyre said.

Meanwhile, he said rumors circulated around camp that he’d lost both his legs.

His commanding officers decided to send him home on Dec. 15, 2004 even though Smyre said he wanted to stay.

“I would have if I could have walked,” he said.  “I couldn’t walk.”

Initially, he said his injuries were not serious, however his left foot got infected after he was shipped home. Smyre didn’t recognize the infection and went back to running and trying to stay in shape as soon as he was able — against doctor’s orders.  When the bone infection was discovered, he said he was at risk of losing his foot.

Despite having suffered an injury, Smyre said he still felt guilty that he couldn’t return to combat.  He feels a strong since of loyalty toward his fellow soldiers.

Especially since his goal was to earn a rank higher than his father’s and continue the family’s extensive military heritage.  Smyre said his dad was a high-ranking officer in U.S. Air Force, his maternal grandfather served in the Army and his paternal grandfather served in the Marine Corps.  His father in law also served in the Marine Corps.

Smyre is certain that his struggles will transcend to other soldiers whether they suffer injuries during their service or not.  He feels obligated to help them however he can.

“I put that first,” he said.  “I know I should put being a father first, but the way I think of it is to show by example and command.”

In the meantime, he continues to stay as close to the military as he can through his job at the Department of Veteran Affairs and through his lifetime memberships to the American Legion and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Smyre was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Air Force Medal, Army Combat Action Medal, the Bronze Star medal and the Presidential Unit Citation.

“It’s not the metals that you’re proud of, it’s the work behind the medals,” Smyre said.

American Legion Post 48 also presented Smyre with a certificate of appreciation.

“I planned on a military career,” Smyre said.  “I still would if I could."