ThursdayJuly 21, 2005
LOCAL NEWS
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Monday, September 15, 2003 HOMETOWN HERO By Holly Swan Jason O'Connor, Lemmon, has recently returned from his harrowing, yet rewarding tour of duty in Iraq. Jason, son of Mike and Peggy O'Connor, owners of the famed Busted T in Lemmon, was born in southern California, in 1981. Jason moved to Lemmon just over a year ago to be closer to family. After one full year in the Army Reserves, Jason joined the National Guard, that was almost two years ago. He drilled in Lemmon for a year, but was sworn into the HHD 109th Engineer Battalion in Sturgis, SD. E-4 Specialist Jason O'Connor and his battalion flew out of Ft. Carson, CO., the same day Operation Iraqi Freedom, the first war of this millennium, began. The 109th started convoy to Arifjan, Kuwait, March 29. They then went to Tallia, Iraq, where they were stationed. During the 5 1/2 months that Jason was on active duty in Iraq, every day he was in mortal danger and every day he gave his all. "During the beginning, when the war first started, tensions were running so high and fighting was rampant and absolutely unpredictable. The temperature reached 147 degrees and it was hard not to come close to losing your temper occasionally. It didn't matter what you were doing, working, eating or sleeping, the fighting never ceased and the heat was savagely hot. So, even though you would gladly die for your brother next to you, living with him was sometimes hard, especially when you're running on pure adrenaline." Jason worked as a fueler, filling up vehicles and machines. When he wasn't doing that, he worked details all day, setting up the perimeter, in case of attack. Each soldier was told to drink eight bottles of water a day, but that got really hard when the temperatures soared, so they used the "hot" water to cook their meals, instead. O'Connor broke his right arm approximately one year ago. He had two plates and 12 screws put into it, but the fifth metacarpal never healed properly. Three weeks into his tour, the same arm was again smashed, while unloading objects from a Conex box. Jason had the option of going to Spain and having it fixed, but then he would have to go home, the 109th went with 38 strong and he was determined it would return the same way. For five more months, Jason fought on, his arm broken. Seeing the casualties of war, helping those you could and trying when you couldn't, that's what makes you stay. Not long into the war, while still getting camp set up, a call came in from the Cash unit, 40 person casualty. The majority of the dead and wounded from the Iraqi attack were Iraqi civilians, many kids, just little kids, taking with them eight United States Marines. "There are no words to describe how you actually feel, when you're trying to help people you know you can't save, but you're compelled to keep trying anyway." There were also good, but very tense times, like being invited as a dinner guest to a friendly Iraqi's. Jason himself was welcomed to dinner, but while on friendly terms, the air in the room could have been cut with a knife. The majority of the Iraqi people welcomed our brave men and women, who have fought so hard to free them from their monstrous dictator. While a lot of what Jason saw and he would like to forget, there is one scene that will stay with him until the day he dies. "We were carrying this guy (Iraqi civilian) with massive head trauma to the helicopter just feet away, when he went into convulsions and started having seizures. One of the girls carrying the gurney just couldn't watch it anymore and broke down, one man stayed to take care of her while me and this other soldier fought our way to the chopper. With only feet to go, he looked at me and started turning white and shaking, blood was running everywhere and he just kept bleeding and bleeding. When we reached the chopper to load him, he was gone, in a matter of seconds and I couldn't save him, I tried, but it was too late and I couldn't." Jason O'Connor fought for our country, our freedom and our safety and while he's back home now, he would do it all over again. Some people are born selfless and Jason is one of them. "When you're a soldier, you know you're out there for a reason and you got to get your job done, lives depend on it." On this side of the world he is planning on going to college and majoring in nursing, either at Western Dakota Tech, or Black Hills. He had signed up for EMT classes, but was activated two days later. Operation Iraqi Freedom hasn't changed his desire to help others, it just made it stronger. Back to search results.... | ||||
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