{"id":89839,"date":"2024-01-11T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=89839"},"modified":"2024-01-16T18:10:23","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T18:10:23","slug":"army-guard-pilot-injured-in-iraq-returns-to-cockpit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=89839","title":{"rendered":"Army Guard pilot injured in Iraq returns to cockpit"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>

\n
\n
\n Capt. Brendan Meehan poses for a photo at the New Hampshire Army Aviation Support Facility in Concord, New Hampshire. Meehan was injured during an Iranian missile strike Jan. 8, 2020, in Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. After about two years of extensive treatment, the pilot is now flying again and commanding a unit.
\n (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Courtney Rorick)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

CONCORD, N.H. \u2014 After receiving intel of a potential Iranian attack on Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq, Capt. Brendan Meehan began calling units from the operations tent, warning them to seek shelter.<\/p>\n

Early in the morning of Jan 8, 2020, Iran sent a barrage of 22 missiles targeted at coalition headquarters in Al Asad and Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq, in response to the U.S. assassination of Iranian Commander Qassem Soleimani.<\/p>\n

A missile struck only 100 yards from Meehan\u2019s location, causing a 500-yard shockwave and sending shrapnel and debris thousands of feet throughout the radius.<\/p>\n

The blast threw him 15 feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was compressed into a spring, thrown, tumbled, then hit my back,\u201d Meehan said. \u201cI looked down and there was this big fireball of smoke. Things were crackling and my first thought was that they blew up the ops tent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meehan assessed his injuries, rolled over and attempted to move.<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t get up,\u201d said Meehan. \u201cI began crawling to the nearest bunker.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once he got inside, after a long pause, Meehan heard a faint \u201cSir, are you OK?\u201d<\/p>\n

After a little while longer, Meehan regained his bearing enough to navigate back and forth between two bunkers about 50 yards apart. Bouncing between the two, Meehan continued to check on troops inside.<\/p>\n

He said an onslaught of multiple missiles ensued following the initial strike.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ground moved,\u201d Meehan said. \u201cIt felt like tremors. I\u2019ve never felt anything like it. They came down the runway, one by one.<\/p>\n

\u201cI originally placed my team in a bunker located 10 feet from a hangar by the airfield,\u201d said Meehan. \u201cI ended up moving them because it was too far away from my location; I needed better command and control.\u201d<\/p>\n

The vacated bunker was later found filled and peppered by shrapnel.<\/p>\n

His decision was lifesaving. Meehan, a pilot with Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment (MEDEVAC), New Hampshire Army National Guard, was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with Valor for helping to save the lives of nine Soldiers.<\/p>\n

While no U.S. troops were killed in the attack, Meehan said the base was destroyed.<\/p>\n

Three days after the attack, Meehan realized the true severity of his team\u2019s injuries and called a flight doctor.<\/p>\n

Each Soldier was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. Although he didn\u2019t feel well himself, Meehan focused on his team\u2019s well-being and had to be ordered to seek medical care.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said, \u2018When are you going to get seen? You\u2019re not OK,\u2019\u201d Meehan recalled. \u201cI wanted to set the example, so I got checked out. It was the right thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was only 10 minutes into the assessment when the doctor told Meehan he needed further evaluation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s when the symptoms really crashed in,\u201d Meehan said. \u201cIt was debilitating; I felt like the world was spinning. I couldn\u2019t look at screens. I had major headaches.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Meehan awaited his replacement, he continued to push through the injury, placing the mission first and getting the medevac team operational.<\/p>\n

On Feb. 7, Meehan was evacuated to a military medical facility in Landstuhl, Germany.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, due to my condition, they determined I needed immediate relocation to Walter Reed (National Medical Center),\u201d said Meehan, who arrived there Feb. 13.<\/p>\n

During multiple evaluations, doctors told Meehan he would never fly again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was told, \u2018You know, you really should be looking for other jobs outside of aviation,\u2019\u201d said Meehan. \u201cOr, \u2018You should be on this medication so you can get better.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Meehan refused any medication; he didn\u2019t want his brain to develop a reliance on a prescription to function normally.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis would have grounded me indefinitely and any hope of flying again would be in jeopardy,\u201d said Meehan. \u201cI wasn\u2019t willing to give up that easily.\u201d<\/p>\n

On May 7, nearly four months after the attack, Meehan was awarded the Purple Heart, presented by Gen. James McConville, chief of staff of the Army.<\/p>\n

But Meehan recognized his symptoms were worsening and decided to seek alternative treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe always kind of downplayed how serious everything was because he didn\u2019t want anyone to feel bad,\u201d said retired Sgt. 1st Class Rodney Anderson, an operations noncommissioned officer with 54th Troop Command at the time.<\/p>\n

Anderson, who was also Meehan\u2019s first platoon sergeant, was informed Meehan had decided to leave the hospital and arrived at Walter Reed with fellow aviators to return him to the Granite State.<\/p>\n

Back in New Hampshire, Meehan explored other forms of care and found Dr. Victor Pedro, the chief innovation officer at the International Institute for the Brain in New York.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will never forget the day I met Brendan,\u201d Pedro said. \u201c… His dad came in with him and I remember I was looking up at him. He put his hands on my shoulders and said, \u2018You\u2019ve got to get my son better. You\u2019ve got to get him flying again \u2026 please.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a dad, as a father of four, I just understood,\u201d said Pedro, who choked up as he recalled the events.<\/p>\n

Pedro said a traumatic brain injury can become more severe the longer it\u2019s left untreated.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe couldn\u2019t get the treatment he needed because everything was shut down,\u201d Pedro said, describing the nationwide health care stress on medical facilities due to COVID-19. \u201cThis let the situation set in. Whereas, ideally, you get them in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although obstacles continued to emerge, Meehan never lost focus on his goal to fly again.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to hand it to him because he just didn\u2019t stop,\u201d said Anderson. \u201cHe never quit. … He was willing to do whatever it took. That\u2019s half the battle.\u201d<\/p>\n

About two years after his injury, and extensive work with Pedro, Meehan went back to Walter Reed to complete a series of neurocognitive tests required to fly again.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe lead-up to being cleared was extremely daunting and unknown,\u201d Meehan said.<\/p>\n

Meehan\u2019s efforts paid off and he received an \u201cup slip,\u201d clearing him to fly. In June 2022, while on annual training at Camp Edwards, Joint Base Cape Cod in Massachusetts, Meehan conducted his first post-injury flight.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was very nervous,\u201d said Meehan. \u201cI just kept thinking, \u2018I hope this goes well.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really took a year after I finally flew to get the mission set back,\u201d Meehan added. \u201cAt that point, it felt like I finally knew what my future would be like again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, not only is Meehan flying but he is also in command of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis drive, dedication, compassion and tenacity to recover are the epitome of a truly well-rounded leader,\u201d said Col. Woody Groton, special projects officer with Joint Forces Headquarters and former commander of 54th Troop Command. \u201cHis resilience, when faced with adversity and uncertainties, is something we can all learn from.\u201d<\/p>\n

That feeling is shared by his long-time friend, Anderson.<\/p>\n

\u201cOvercoming this injury to then fly again and take command,\u201d said Anderson. \u201cHe\u2019s simply unmatched by others and this is a testament to his incredible character.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meehan described his experience as eye-opening.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think this has made me more well-rounded,\u201d said Meehan. \u201cI\u2019m able to better understand the things my Soldiers go through when it comes to challenges, sacrifices and adversity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis journey really made me grow as a person, professionally and personally,\u201d he added. \u201cI think this has made me a better pilot.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more National Guard news<\/a><\/p>\n

National Guard Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

National Guard X (Twitter<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Capt. Brendan Meehan poses for a photo at the New Hampshire Army Aviation Support Facility in Concord, New Hampshire. Meehan was injured during an Iranian missile strike Jan. 8, 2020, in Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. After about two years of extensive treatment, the pilot is now flying again and commanding a unit. (Photo Credit: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":85648,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-89839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89839","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=89839"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89839\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89841,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89839\/revisions\/89841"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/85648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=89839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=89839"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=89839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}