Independence Lost For Soldier, Wounded Veteran Regained It With Service Dog

Wounded L.I. Veteran Commemorates Harrowing Anniversary On July 4, Plows Ahead 
CBS New York
Carolyn Gusoff
July 3, 2015

July 4, 2005, as America celebrated independence, Cila — on a mission in Baghdad — lost a part of his own.

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — This Fourth of July weekend holds special meeting for a Long Island veteran, who was observing the tenth anniversary of injuries that nearly killed him in Iraq.

As CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff reported Friday, Sam Cila has a canine friend who has helped him through his inspirational recovery.

For Cila, Independence Day is personal.

“It was a day that did change things for me a lot for me,” he said.

Motivated by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Cila left his Long Island family — placing himself in harm’s way….

“He said: ‘Hey, I’m going to do something about it. I’m going to join the military,” said his wife, Anna Cila.

And thus, Sam Cila joined the fight against terrorism.

“Why not me?” he said. “If it’s good enough – if someone else’s son should do it, then so should I,” he said.

But on July 4, 2005, as America celebrated independence, Cila — on a mission in Baghdad — lost a part of his own.

“The enemy unleashed a bomb, and took off most of my left arm, my bicep, my tricep,” he said.

According to the Congressional Research Service, more than 1,500 members of the military have lost limbs in amputations since Sept. 11, 2001.

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