A Canadian soldier has become the first from his nation to return to combat in Afghanistan after a limb amputation. Capt. Simon Mailloux, who lost half his left leg while on duty in the country he’ll soon return to, told the Canwest News Service that his plans to return began almost immediately after his injury.
“Although there were some rough patches,” he said, “my determination to go back never faltered. I want to finish the work we started.”
The then-25-year-old sustained his amputation in November 2007 after the armored vehicle he was riding in rolled over an improvised explosive device (IED). Two other soldiers died in the blast.
According to Canwest, Mailloux says that he’ll be able to return to his job because of quality rehabilitation, advanced prosthetic care, and perhaps a change in Canadian Forces policy.
“It was a decision from the higher command to say we’re taking an injured soldier and we’ll work with him,” Mailloux recalled.
He also stated that he received no special treatment when it came to requalifying for deployment. He spent a year after his injury training while working as an aide-de-camp, then rejoined military training in July. He has passed all of his physical testing for battlefield readiness though he won’t be returning to vehicle command, his previous post. Instead, he’ll work at staff headquarters, preparing field plans for long-term campaigns.
“It’s going to be a big challenge, but I have field experience and I know the villages in the Kandahar province,” he said. “That is going to help me.”
He also plans to spend some time before his redeployment encouraging other amputees to persevere in their goals. Other Canadian soldiers are already planning to follow in his footsteps. Master Cpl. Jody Mitic, a bilateral transtibial amputee, is training to return to combat duty. Mitic recently ran a half-marathon.
“It’s a personal decision every soldier has to make,” Mailloux said, “but I know some soldiers are not far behind me…. I’m not better than anyone else, but if I can help some people to get up and do something, well great.”
