Wounded soldier gets big honor at Broncos kickoff

Wounded soldier, a longtime Panthers fan, gets big honor at Broncos kickoff
BY RON GREEN JR.
The Charlotte Observer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Shortly before kickoff in the Carolina Panthers' 1 p.m. game Sunday against the Denver Broncos, the big video boards at opposite ends of Bank of America Stadium will tell the story of Staff Sgt. Brian Williams and his explosive-sniffing dog, Carly.

On patrol with Carly in southern Afghanistan in April, Williams was severely injured by an improvised explosive device while clearing an IED-manufacturing plant.

He lost his left leg above the knee, suffered injuries to all four limbs, had multiple soft tissue wounds and lost four teeth. Carly was unhurt.

Williams, a member of the Air Force's 87th Security Forces Squadron, has been recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., since arriving there April 29.

He was in his sixth deployment four in the Middle East and two in Afghanistan when he was injured.
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