Published: November 04, 2009 06:17 pm      

Charlie Troop’s wounded here next week

Wounded Warriors tour, Nov. 10-14

Tuesday, 7 p.m. — Guests of honor at Mallary Hope concert at the Wink Theatre benefiting the American Cancer Society

Wednesday, 6:45 a.m. — Flag ceremony at the Whitfield County Courthouse

Noon — Rotary luncheon

Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. — Dalton High School (split group)

Noon, Luncheon with Dalton Business Group (split group)

6 p.m. — Special guests at Sons of the American Revolution banquet

Friday, 10 a.m. — City Park School

11 a.m. — North Whitfield Middle School

Saturday, 11 a.m. — Veterans Day Parade with ceremony following on courthouse steps



When Dalton sent off its National Guard unit Charlie Troop to Afghanistan earlier this year, fanfare and prayers marked the soldiers’ departure. Next week, four of the soldiers who were wounded in two separate incidents and are still recovering will return as part of a “Wounded Warriors” tour surrounding Veterans Day activities on Nov. 11.

Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Boyles, from Augusta, is the non-commissioned officer (NCO) in charge of the contingent. He was asked if they would be able to handle the rigors of the packed schedule that runs from Nov. 10-14 at several venues around town.

“We’re all infantry soldiers, so we’re up to the task,” he relayed from the U.S. Army’s Eisenhower Medical Center at Fort Gordon near Augusta. “I’m sure of it.”

Also on the tour will be Spc. Andrew Sullens, Cpl. Nate Watson and Spc. Anthony Landowski. Boyles; Sullens, from Dahlonega; and Landowski, from Ringgold, were wounded when their vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device (IED) on May 17 and are recuperating at Fort Gordon. Watson, from Woodstock, was shot in the arm on Aug. 17. All four are in outpatient programs, but Landowski’s therapy is taking place at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He will join the tour on Thursday, and then all four will be honored at the Veterans Day Parade on Saturday.

Boyles was seriously wounded when the vehicle was rocked by the IED blast near Tagab. He sustained several fractures in his back, including a crushed vertebrae, and was burned on the upper half of his body.

“With the colder weather, I definitely know I have something wrong with my back,” he said.

Bedridden initially, Boyles said after the swelling went down he was up and walking.

“Because of the trauma (of the explosion), they felt it was in my best interest to get up and get walking,” he explained. “We’re all going through recovery, and sometimes that means you don’t get to move around as much as you want. It’s also like we’re coming home, so it’s exciting to us and it’s an important event to us.”

Contacted at Walter Reed, Landowski said he was “feeling pretty good” but that recovery was “slow and steady.” He sustained wounds in his left leg, and his right ankle and heel were completely shattered, he said. He also has minor fractures in his pelvis and right elbow.

“I’ve been doing a lot of therapy, every day,” said Landowski, who was a medic attached to the unit. “I also do some aqua therapy with exercises in the water, and exercise out of the pool.”

He said he’s excited to be coming to Dalton, and will be staying at his parents’ home in Ringgold.

“I haven’t been home since April, and I’m really honored to be part of the Wounded Warriors tour,” he said.

The other soldiers and their wives will get complimentary rooms at the Country Inn and Suites, Hampton Inn and Jameson Inn.

Landowski said doctors have yet to tell him when he will be released. As a NASCAR fan, he was thrilled to be selected as grand marshal of the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 race in Richmond, Va., in September.

Sullens suffered a broken leg and hip in the IED blast. Pvt. 1st Class Shane Richardson of Dalton was driving and had a laceration to his forehead.

Boyles, Sullens and Watson will make their first stop in Dalton on Tuesday when they are guests of honor at the Mallary Hope concert at the Wink Theatre to benefit the American Cancer Society.