Hagan Home For The Holiday After Receiving War Injury
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
On Oct. 21, Army Specialist Danny Hagan was shot in the back of the head with an M16 at close range in Ruzi, Afghanistan, according to his mother, Connie Hagan.
“We were doing a road project on the side of the road. Enemy insurgents drove by in a car and shot me from the road,” Danny said.
Danny had bruising, bleeding and swelling of the brain.
“He’s doing fine except he’s walking with a cane and he has memory problems,” Connie said. “He’s in rehab in Tampa, Florida, and improving every day.”
Danny was greeted at the Fort Wayne airport Thursday by about 200 people, according to Russ Bauer, Indiana Patriot Guard Northeast Indiana senior ride captain. At about 8:45 a.m. Thursday, Bauer sent out a notice about the Guard meeting Danny at the airport. By noon, about 25 riders showed up at the airport.
Along with the Patriot Guard, greeting Danny home were members of the National Guard, North Webster American Legion Post 253, Air National Guard Reserves, American Legion Riders, Army Reserves and American Legion Post 49. His family and friends also welcomed him back.
“I was definitely surprised,” Danny said. “I wasn’t expecting anything like that at all. ... It was a good feeling.”
Friday afternoon, Post 49 then held a “welcome home” party for Danny at the Warsaw American Legion.
Kelley Brubaker, Auxiliary president, and Cindy Peters, vice president, organized the event at the Legion. Brubaker said the Legion bought Danny and his family some Christmas presents and gift cards. Owen’s donated a large cake with an American flag that also read “Welcome Home, Danny!”
Connie said Danny, a former Wawasee High School student, went into the Army as soon as he turned 18. He didn’t even wait until graduation. He got his GED and went into the Army.
“He flew the Raven, he piloted it, and he was the squad leader for his troops,” Connie said.
Danny left to Afghanistan last March, Connie said. He was with the 3rd Brigade 287 out of Fort Drum 10th Mountain.
Danny served two tours in Afghanistan. His first tour was 12 months. He got shot during the seventh month of his second tour.
After being shot and treated in Afghanistan, Connie said Danny was flown to Germany, then to Fort Belvoir in Virginia. He was then taken to Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital, Washington, D.C., where his family got to see him five days later, Connie said.
“I’m doing pretty good,” said Danny.
He said he doesn’t know how much treatment he has left. The brain takes six to 12 months to heal, he said.
Danny summed it up with, “I’m hoping for a full recovery.”
Along with his mother, Connie, Danny’s father is Richard Hagan, and his stepmother is Cindy Hagan. He has a brother and a sister.
Danny and Andrea, Syracuse, have been married for two years, and have a 16-month-old son, Colton.
As for his future in the Army, Danny said, “It’s kind of wait and see, but it looks like I’ll be getting out medically.”
“We’re thankful for everything everyone has done for us,” said Andrea.
“We’re thankful for all the support we’ve received back home,” Danny added.[[In-content Ad]]
On Oct. 21, Army Specialist Danny Hagan was shot in the back of the head with an M16 at close range in Ruzi, Afghanistan, according to his mother, Connie Hagan.
“We were doing a road project on the side of the road. Enemy insurgents drove by in a car and shot me from the road,” Danny said.
Danny had bruising, bleeding and swelling of the brain.
“He’s doing fine except he’s walking with a cane and he has memory problems,” Connie said. “He’s in rehab in Tampa, Florida, and improving every day.”
Danny was greeted at the Fort Wayne airport Thursday by about 200 people, according to Russ Bauer, Indiana Patriot Guard Northeast Indiana senior ride captain. At about 8:45 a.m. Thursday, Bauer sent out a notice about the Guard meeting Danny at the airport. By noon, about 25 riders showed up at the airport.
Along with the Patriot Guard, greeting Danny home were members of the National Guard, North Webster American Legion Post 253, Air National Guard Reserves, American Legion Riders, Army Reserves and American Legion Post 49. His family and friends also welcomed him back.
“I was definitely surprised,” Danny said. “I wasn’t expecting anything like that at all. ... It was a good feeling.”
Friday afternoon, Post 49 then held a “welcome home” party for Danny at the Warsaw American Legion.
Kelley Brubaker, Auxiliary president, and Cindy Peters, vice president, organized the event at the Legion. Brubaker said the Legion bought Danny and his family some Christmas presents and gift cards. Owen’s donated a large cake with an American flag that also read “Welcome Home, Danny!”
Connie said Danny, a former Wawasee High School student, went into the Army as soon as he turned 18. He didn’t even wait until graduation. He got his GED and went into the Army.
“He flew the Raven, he piloted it, and he was the squad leader for his troops,” Connie said.
Danny left to Afghanistan last March, Connie said. He was with the 3rd Brigade 287 out of Fort Drum 10th Mountain.
Danny served two tours in Afghanistan. His first tour was 12 months. He got shot during the seventh month of his second tour.
After being shot and treated in Afghanistan, Connie said Danny was flown to Germany, then to Fort Belvoir in Virginia. He was then taken to Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital, Washington, D.C., where his family got to see him five days later, Connie said.
“I’m doing pretty good,” said Danny.
He said he doesn’t know how much treatment he has left. The brain takes six to 12 months to heal, he said.
Danny summed it up with, “I’m hoping for a full recovery.”
Along with his mother, Connie, Danny’s father is Richard Hagan, and his stepmother is Cindy Hagan. He has a brother and a sister.
Danny and Andrea, Syracuse, have been married for two years, and have a 16-month-old son, Colton.
As for his future in the Army, Danny said, “It’s kind of wait and see, but it looks like I’ll be getting out medically.”
“We’re thankful for everything everyone has done for us,” said Andrea.
“We’re thankful for all the support we’ve received back home,” Danny added.[[In-content Ad]]
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