The 'luckiest, unlucky' firefighter

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joanna M. Kresge
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
After a six-month tour in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, one member of the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department was ready to go home. He made numerous phone calls back to the states to ensure everything was ready for his arrival, he had his bags packed and was only hours from take-off when everything changed.

Tech. Sgt. John Knight doesn't consider himself to be a hero, and he definitely doesn't think himself worthy of the recognition he received May 7, when he was awarded the Purple Heart.

"It was crazy," Sergeant Knight said. "I went back to my living quarters to start loading bags into the truck so I could get in the truck and go straight to the airport in the morning. I'd just walked in, grabbed the strap on my rucksack when I heard the siren and... it just got real loud... it all happened so fast."

Sergeant Knight's three-man living quarters was hit with a mortar round, which impacted his room directly - his roommates both ended up with concussions; however, Sergeant Knight's injuries were more extensive.

"I thought I was hit with a shot gun at first, that's what it felt like," he said. "I wiggled all my fingers and toes and I figured I was good. Then, I felt the shrapnel in my back and I just kept thinking, 'they can just take it out of my back and I'll still be able to go home.' When I tried to walk is when I figured out I was hurt worse than I thought."

Both of Sergeant Knight's legs and his back received significant soft tissue shrapnel damage and one of his ear drums ruptured in the blast.

Army medics rushed to Sergeant Knight's aid, transported him to a nearby clinic and assessed his injuries. Meanwhile, Sergeant Knight joked with them and tried to keep things light.

"I knew I was in shock, but I just kept laughing, joking and telling myself that I'm a fireman and I can do this," he said. "I'm not the kind of guy who likes to be babied; all I was thinking about was getting better."

The following day, Sergeant Knight was visited by Brig. Gen. Darryl Roberson, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, who presented him with the Purple Heart and imparted the history of the legendary award. However, Sergeant Knight felt he wasn't deserving of the honor.

"At first I wasn't thinking about getting the Purple Heart, it was the furthest thing from my mind," he said. "Someone got a lucky shot in, and honestly I didn't feel in my heart the award was warranted. But after hearing the history from the general, it really touched me. I started thinking about everybody who was worse off than me in different wars throughout history who received this award, and now I'm one of them. I tried to hold my emotions in, but I couldn't - everyone kept telling me, 'it's okay, you're supposed to cry.'"

As Sergeant Knight was being taken care of and transferred to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, the firefighter network was already abuzz with news of his injuries and prepared for his travel arrangements.

"As soon as I got the news that Sergeant Knight had been hurt, I went back to my office to start making phone calls," said Tim Sprague, 2 CES Fire Department chief. "Before I had a chance, I saw I had already received an e-mail from a chief over there who said he needed to talk to me about Sergeant Knight, so I called him. I don't know what time it was, it had to be o'dark-thirty over there, but he was still at work - he had already set wheels in motion."

Sergeant Knight arrived in Germany where the firefighters met him on the runway. They shot water arches over the plane and when Sergeant Knight was transferred from the plane to the hospital, they all shook his hand and applauded him.

Throughout his journey back to the United States and Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Sergeant Knight was received at every stop by his fellow firefighters, a gesture that meant the world to him.

"The thing that meant the most to me was the fire departments at all the bases, they really took care of me everywhere I went," he said. "They came out in droves making sure my needs were met. Every base I went to, they were there waiting for me. The fire trucks were outside and everyone cheered for me as I was getting off the plane. Above all, it made me feel the love."

Mr. Sprague explains the over whelming response Sergeant Knight received is due to the structure of the firefighter family.

"Firefighters are all a little bit different, but when something significant like this happens, we all become the tightest family in the world," Mr. Sprague said. "It doesn't matter if you like them, love them or hate them, we are here for our brothers. That's the kind of family we have."

With his deployment behind him, Sergeant Knight still has a long road to recovery ahead of him filled with physical therapy and multiple surgeries. However, if asked, Sergeant Knight would insist that "by Fall, I should be good."

"I expect him to be back soon, but he'll be sore for a while. He won't be put back on the trucks until I'm sure and he's sure," Mr. Sprague said. "In fact, I won't even test him until he tells me he is ready."

In the meantime, Sergeant Knight is spending time with his family, healing and being thankful for the ability to do so as he reflects on the words of his father following the incident.

"My dad said I'm the luckiest, unlucky guy he ever met," he said with a chuckle and a smile.