The Virginian-Pilot
By Brock Vergakis
July 4, 2016
“We’re out here because we believe in one thing, and that’s keeping everyone back at home safe as well as keeping everyone out here safe as well. So just know that we’re going to continue doing that to the best of our ability.” Petty Officer 3rd Class Vanzorro L. Gross
Nobody would’ve blamed Vanzorro Gross for leaving the Navy.
The hospital corpsman had served honorably for years when he was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade in Afghanistan four years ago at Camp Bastion while supporting a Marine air wing. Two Marines died in the attack, multiple Harrier aircraft were destroyed and 14 insurgents disguised in U.S. uniforms were killed during a battle that lasted hours.
When another corpsman found Gross in the midst of a firefight, his face was bleeding and he had a piece of metal protruding from his left foot that had to be yanked out immediately.
He later discovered three of his ligaments were sliced, every bone in his foot was shattered and he had shrapnel in his leg, side, neck and head.
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