Barksdale Airman recounts IED attack

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Micaiah Anthony
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Several engines roar through the night air, accompanied with several thumps, slams and thuds as military members pile into vehicles. A senior airman who serves as a medic climbs into an armored vehicle with her gear. The convoy begins its long journey to its destination.

The days' duties of dealing with life outside the wire take its toll on the Airman. She takes a moment to rest her eyes and puts her I-pod in her pocket when suddenly an improvised explosive device detonates launching their vehicle into the air.

Senior Airman Jasmine Russell, 2nd Medical Operations Squadron medical technician, was in that vehicle.

The truck slams into the ground and the convoy comes to a screeching halt. Immediately the scene bursts into yelling and radio chatter. Tension grow as everyone realizes that the vehicle hit, is the one carrying the unit's medic. Airman Russell rushes out of the wreck and immediately starts helping the injured.

"I thought it was a joke, it seemed surreal," recounted Airman Russell. "It exploded underneath my seat and ripped through the truck from underneath. I remember going up and coming down, but it was weird, like a roller coaster."

Airman Russell sustained injuries due to the explosion. Her eye was bleeding and after she was medically evacuated, she found out that she had a grade two concussion, but this didn't stop her from doing her job.

"Worrying about everyone else in the truck was my main priority," Airman Russell said. "I continued to help the injured until the medical evacuations arrived."

Airman Russell had been on several convoy missions before the attack that injured her. She had treated patient's wounds that varied from concussions, missing limbs and gunshot wounds.

"You're on a mission sometimes with 400 people and it's just you as the medic... it's kind of scary, because they rely on you and think of you more as a doctor. It was completely different than it would be here. The only similarity is that they're patients," said Airman Russell.

Airman Russell recently returned to Barksdale in June and was appointed to the 2nd Medical Group Personal Reliability Program where she is the only junior enlisted nurse technician--a fast pace job, but still a huge break from the stress of being a medic in Afghanistan.

"Airman Russell leads from the front every day with every task, she is definitely a terrific asset to the 2 MDG and the Air Force," said Senior Master Sgt. Lesley Arana, 2nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron superintendent.

"We were not surprised by her performance. She has a strong work ethic and sense of integrity. Her compassion and performance is above the highest standards at all times," added Senior Master Sgt. Shanece Johnson, 2nd Medical Support Squadron superintendent.

"If they told me, 'hey you could stay here or go back to Afghanistan,' I would just gather up my boxes and bags and go back there and not even think twice about it," Airman Russell concluded.