Although we refer to the injured as our “troops,” or “military personnel,” these individuals made a commitment to serve and protect America and are Americans who will return from Iran with injuries that could potentially last a lifetime. Lt. Colonel Staci Coleman, commander of the 443 Air Expeditionary Squadron stationed at the Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq recalls the ballistic missile strike that occurred over a year ago. Coleman has a deep faith, stating she forced herself to refocus her attention on what she needed to do, turning over the outcome to a higher power.
Service members stationed at Al-Asad and Erbil had only hours to react to the incoming barrage of the Iranian ballistic missiles launched in the early morning hours. Thankfully, no service members were killed in the attack, but the traumatic brain injuries have been brutal. After receiving word that Iran was planning to attack the Al-Asad airbase located in Iraq (Anbar province), Coleman says she spent a few moments attempting to wrap her mind around the “reality of the situation.”
Coleman quickly evacuated about half of the 160 people under her command, keeping the remainder on site to secure the airfield. At the time, Coleman says, she honestly didn’t think any of them—or herself—would survive the Iranian attack. Flight commanders had quickly compiled a list of the personnel they believed were “emotionally equipped,” to endure a potential missile strike.
Coleman was well aware she was gambling with the lives of others because of something she had no control over. The remaining service members packed a bunker with essential supplies. Coleman herself made a final phone call to her family members to tell them she loved them. Coleman vividly recalls when the first missile waves hit. The ground shook with “a force impossible to put into words,” and the blast waves could be felt “throughout your entire body.” Coleman noted.
Coleman said the waves came, one after another after another. Poor radio signals inside the bunker prohibited communication with other service members. Coleman says she remembers the moment when she let herself believe her unit would survive the strike so long as the bunker did not take a direct hit.
Coleman was primarily worried about Air Force security force troops outside the bunker and airfield operations flight members who were in a separate bunker. Coleman is thankful there were no deaths during the Iranian ballistic missile attack but recognizes the serious nature of the resulting brain injuries suffered by U.S. troops.
If you or a loved one were injured during any one of the aforementioned Iranian Ballistic Missile Attacks on U.S. Troops stationed in Iraq, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.