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EGLIN AIR FORCE
BASE, Fla. -- Tech. Sgt. Hector Barrios stands with his dog during
his re-enlistment ceremony here recently. After a two-ton concrete
barrier fell on his leg and foot while deployed supporting Operation
Iraqi Freedom in July 2003, Sergeant Barrios faced an 18-month
struggle of amputation, reconstruction and infections before he
gained medical clearance to remain in the Air Force. Sergeant
Barrios is a dog handler with the 96th Security Forces Squadron
here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Will VanderMate).
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Military Working Dog handler's amazing
story By Lois Walsh
96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (CFNEWS)-- It was a special day for Tech. Sgt.
Hector Barrios when he re-enlisted in the Air Force recently.
While a re-enlistment itself is not an unusual event, getting there was
for the 96th Security Forces Squadron dog handler.
On July 15, 2003, Sergeant Barrios was deployed for Operation Iraqi
Freedom. While on gate-guard duty, he moved some wire strung to a
concrete barrier to permit a vehicle to drive through a makeshift gate.
As the truck cleared the barrier, it caught the wire, causing the
two-ton barrier to fall on Barrios' left leg and foot.
Sergeant Barrios faced an 18-month struggle of amputation,
reconstruction and infections before he gained his medical clearance to
remain in the Air Force and in a job he loved. Now his gear includes two
prostheses--one for walking and one for running.
Initially, all the bones in his foot were broken. Doctors said that
drastic measures were needed, including hyperbaric oxygen chamber
treatments and amputation of most of the damaged foot.
"The doctors told me they would have to amputate my leg from the knee
down," Sergeant Barrios said. "When I woke up, I only lost half of my
foot, which [makes it] better for me to get around."
Sergeant Barrios said it was rough emotionally after the amputation, but
his family, the base hospital staff, physical therapists, his unit
Airmen and fellow dog handlers took care of him.
It was especially difficult not knowing whether he would be able to
continue his career after investing 14 years.
"You have to be positive--otherwise it doesn't do any good. I was always
trying to stay positive," he said.
Sergeant Barrios said he has reached his main goal of staying in the Air
Force for six more years and his experience shows what can be
accomplished, "if you put your mind to something."
Now, with the help of a special prosthesis, he can run a 10-minute mile.
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