Combat wounded Afghanistan veterans reunite after night they almost died

Veterans injured in Afghanistan blast reunite after 5 years
CBS 5 Arizona
By Rebecca Thomas
Posted: Sep 07, 2013

SCOTTSDALE, AZ
Four veterans wounded in Afghanistan got to see each other for Friday night for the first time since their Humvee was attacked five years ago.

The emotional reunion took place at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, and was made possible by the Valley based nonprofit Friends of Freedom.

"I try to move on, said Mike Brown of Chicago and the driver of the armored vehicle. "But, that day – on Sept. 24 – that's a life changer."

On Sept. 24, 2008, four Americans - three national guardsmen and one contractor for the State Department - were on a mission south of Kabul when their Humvee was blown up by the Taliban.

"We were out on a normal patrol," said Mike Downing of Boston. "I was up on the gun, taking my turn, and one thing led to another."

The blast ejected the men from their vehicle - severely injuring all of them.

But, some of the men managed to remain conscious and fire at the enemy - helping to save the team.

"The only reason in the world that I'm alive is these guys fought like crazy and protected all of us," said Steve Martin of the Phoenix area.
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