U.S. soldier injured by IED heads home

Jul 24, 2014

U.S. soldier injured by IED heads home

Jerry Jackson 0 Comment Nation, World Afghanistan, U.S. Army, veterans

U.S. Army soldier Sgt. Matt Krumwiede was on patrol in Afghanistan in June of 2012 when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED). The explosion tore away both his legs, damaged his left arm, and ripped open his abdominal cavity.

Since then he has undergone dozens of surgeries and spent time recovering at Brooke Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, learning to walk again with the use of prosthetic legs. In June 2014, he visited to his hometown of Pocatello, Idaho for the first time since he was injured.

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede wears a wrist band in memory of his friend Sterling Wyatt who was killed in Afghanistan while Krumwiede does physical therapy at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, February 24, 2014. Krumwiede was on patrol in Afghanistan in 2012 when he stepped on an improvised explosive device which tore away both his legs, damaged his left arm, and ripped open his abdominal cavity. Since then he has undergone dozens of surgeries and spent time recovering at Brooke Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, learning to walk again with the use of prosthetic legs. In June 2014, he visited to his hometown of Pocatello, Idaho for the first time since he was injured. Picture taken February 24, 2014. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: A welcome sign is seen in front of Sgt. Matt Krumwiede’s home in Pocatello, Idaho, June 30, 2014. Krumwiede was on patrol in Afghanistan in 2012 when he stepped on an improvised explosive device which tore away both his legs, damaged his left arm, and ripped open his abdominal cavity. Since then he has undergone dozens of surgeries and spent time recovering at Brooke Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, learning to walk again with the use of prosthetic legs. In June 2014, he visited to his hometown of Pocatello, Idaho for the first time since he was injured. Picture taken June 30, 2014. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede (L) relaxes with his twin brother Sgt. Mark Krumwiede as he spends time with friends at home in Pocatello, Idaho, June 30, 2014. Krumwiede was on patrol in Afghanistan in 2012 when he stepped on an improvised explosive device which tore away both his legs, damaged his left arm, and ripped open his abdominal cavity. Since then he has undergone dozens of surgeries and spent time recovering at Brooke Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, learning to walk again with the use of prosthetic legs. In June 2014, he visited to his hometown of Pocatello, Idaho for the first time since he was injured. Picture taken June 30, 2014. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede prepares to put on prosthetic legs to practice riding his longboard, a type of skateboard, at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, February 24, 2014. Krumwiede was on patrol in Afghanistan in 2012 when he stepped on an improvised explosive device which tore away both his legs, damaged his left arm, and ripped open his abdominal cavity. Since then he has undergone dozens of surgeries and spent time recovering at Brooke Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, learning to walk again with the use of prosthetic legs. In June 2014, he visited to his hometown of Pocatello, Idaho for the first time since he was injured. Picture taken February 24, 2014. (REUTERS/Jim Urquhart)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede prepares to put on prosthetic legs to practice riding his longboard at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, February 24, 2014. Krumwiede was on patrol in Afghanistan in 2012 when he stepped on an improvised explosive device which tore away both his legs, damaged his left arm, and ripped open his abdominal cavity. Since then he has undergone dozens of surgeries and spent time recovering at Brooke Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, learning to walk again with the use of prosthetic legs. In June 2014, he visited to his hometown of Pocatello, Idaho for the first time since he was injured. Picture taken February 24, 2014. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede prepares to put on prosthetic legs to practice riding his longboard, a type of skateboard, at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, February 24, 2014. Krumwiede was on patrol in Afghanistan in 2012 when he stepped on an improvised explosive device which tore away both his legs, damaged his left arm, and ripped open his abdominal cavity. Since then he has undergone dozens of surgeries and spent time recovering at Brooke Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, learning to walk again with the use of prosthetic legs. In June 2014, he visited to his hometown of Pocatello, Idaho for the first time since he was injured. Picture taken February 24, 2014. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede (R) walks with student physical therapist Tommy Weber at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas February 24, 2014. Krumwiede was on patrol in Afghanistan in 2012 when he stepped on an improvised explosive device which tore away both his legs, damaged his left arm, and ripped open his abdominal cavity. Since then he has undergone dozens of surgeries and spent time recovering at Brooke Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, learning to walk again with the use of prosthetic legs. In June 2014, he visited to his hometown of Pocatello, Idaho for the first time since he was injured. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede (R) prepares to leave for a picnic with his brother Sgt. Mark Krumwiede in Pocatello, Idaho, June 29, 2014. Krumwiede was on patrol in Afghanistan in 2012 when he stepped on an improvised explosive device which tore away both his legs, damaged his left arm, and ripped open his abdominal cavity. Since then he has undergone dozens of surgeries and spent time recovering at Brooke Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, learning to walk again with the use of prosthetic legs. In June 2014, he visited to his hometown of Pocatello, Idaho for the first time since he was injured. Picture taken June 29, 2014. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: U.S. Army soldier Sgt. Matt Krumwiede, from the 5-20 Infantry Regiment attached to 82nd Airborne Division, walks while on patrol in Zharay district of Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan June 11, 2012. (Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters)

: U.S. Army soldiers secure an area, as a medic treats Sgt. Matt Krumwiede who was wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED) in southern Afghanistan June 12, 2012. (Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters)

: U.S. Army soldiers carry Sgt. Matt Krumwiede, who was wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED), towards a Blackhawk Medevac helicopter in southern Afghanistan June 12, 2012. (Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters)

: U.S. Army soldiers carry Sgt. Matt Krumwiede, who was wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED), towards a Blackhawk Medevac helicopter in southern Afghanistan June 12, 2012. (Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters)

: U.S. Army soldiers carry Sgt. Matt Krumwiede, who was wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED), towards a Blackhawk Medevac helicopter in southern Afghanistan on June 12, 2012. (Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters)

: U.S. Army soldiers react after Sgt. Matt Krumwiede was wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED) in southern Afghanistan June 12, 2012. (Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters)

: A U.S. Army soldier reacts as he sits inside an armoured vehicle after his comrade, Sgt. Matt Krumwiede, was wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED) in southern Afghanistan. (Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters)

: A blood-covered M4 rifle belonging to Sgt. Matt Krumwiede, who was wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED), lies on the ground in southern Afghanistan on June 12, 2012. (Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army makes his way to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas August 1, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army meets with physician assistant Michael Chambers at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas August 1, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army practices walking at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas August 1, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army wipes sweat off his face after practising walking at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas August 1, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army practices walking with his physical therapist Troy Hopkins at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas August 1, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army practices walking with his physical therapist Troy Hopkins at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas August 1, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army (front, 2nd L) lines up for morning formation at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas August 1, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army plays a drumming computer game during occupational therapy at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas August 1, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army assembles a Lego set during occupational therapy at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas August 1, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army sits in his wheelchair as he is pushed by his friend Sgt. Jesse McCart at a hunting ranch outside San Antonio, Texas November 3, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army (R) sits in a jeep as he hunts with his friend Sgt. Jesse McCart at a hunting ranch outside San Antonio, Texas November 2, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army sits in a jeep as he hunts with his friend Sgt. Jesse McCart at a hunting ranch outside San Antonio, Texas November 2, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army (L) sits in a jeep as he hunts with his friend Sgt. Jesse McCart at a hunting ranch outside San Antonio, Texas November 2, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army wheels himself in his wheelchair during a skeet shooting event at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas November 2, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army is helped off the ground by his friend Sgt. Jesse McCart at a hunting ranch outside San Antonio, Texas November 2, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army plays with a dog as he sits in a car at a hunting ranch outside San Antonio, Texas November 3, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army sits in his wheelchair as he is pushed by his mother Pam Krumwiede at a hunting ranch outside San Antonio, Texas November 3, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army (R) sits in pain while his friend Sgt. Jesse McCart and his mother Pam Krumwiede talk, after a day of hunting at a ranch outside San Antonio, Texas November 2, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army has a wound tended to by his mother Pam Krumwiede, after a day of hunting at a ranch outside San Antonio, Texas November 3, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army (L) talks to his friend Sgt. Jesse McCart at a hunting ranch outside San Antonio, Texas November 3, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army reacts as his hand is massaged by his mother Pam Krumwiede, after being admitted for an infection at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas November 4, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army takes a phone call as his hand is massaged by his mother Pam Krumwiede, after being admitted for an infection at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas November 4, 2013. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

A portion of the photos featured in this gallery were initially published in November 2014.

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