Jacksonville Wounded Warrior Remembers Combat Duty

Jacksonville Wounded Warrior Remembers Combat Duty; Now Helps Troops Returning Home
Oct 7, 2011

Written by
Mike Lyons

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Zach Hudson said combat duty in Afghanistan changed his life, and now he spends it helping veterans when they return.

Afghanistan was invaded by the U.S. and coalition forces on Oct. 7, 2001 - 27 days after 9/11. The purpose was to crush the al-Qaida base of operations, remove the Taliban from power and train Afghan forces for a new government.

Then-Army sergeant Hudson went to war in 2006 and spent 16 months as an infantry medic, once suffering a shrapnel injury to his leg. "It is one of those things that sneaks up on you, 'Wow! It's been 10 years now'," said Hudson.

"We were trying to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people, because Afghan people as a whole are not bad people," said Hudson. "It was a small group of people that worked with the Taliban that started this entire conflict."

Hudson, 27, said he is proud of his service and would return if necessary.

Hudson now works for the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization whose mission is to "honor and empower wounded warriors." Hudson helps soldiers deal with post-traumatic stress disorder.

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