Wounded Soldiers Seek Closure

A group of wounded soldiers recently returned to the country where they had been injured as part of a new program aimed at helping veterans find closure and continue healing.

Army Sergeant Robert Brown, retired Staff Sergeant Bradley Gruetzner, and Sergeant Christopher A. Burrell were among the six men who took part in Operation Proper Exit, sponsored by the Army and the Troops First Foundation.

The program has multiple aims: participants get a first-hand look at how their efforts have led to security gains in Iraq, plus they get a chance to visit fellow soldiers and others who provided inspiration.

"I don't remember much [about the injury], but I remember my nurse," Burrell told the American Forces Press Service. "She was an angel, there to comfort me when I was in a difficult spot."

The wounded servicemen also had the opportunity to share their stories with soldiers currently stationed in the region, offering insight on their recovery process.

"It kind of helps you heal mentally and emotionally, to close that chapter in your life so you can move on," Burrell told the Press Service. "It shows that we made a sacrifice but it was for a reason.”