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Soldier ‘lucky to be
alive’ after Iraq hit
Nicholas Tuiolosega was the
first wounded in the 100th
Battalion's Charlie Company
A year ago, Spc. Nicholas Tuiolosega, who had been in the Army Reserve for nearly seven years, was working at the airport in American Samoa.
On April 21 he became the first member of the 100th Battalion's Charlie Company to be wounded in Iraq when his convoy ran over what he now believes was a land mine "outside the wire" surrounding Logistical Support Area Anaconda northwest of Baghdad.
"I am lucky to be alive," said Tuiolosega, 29. "I never expected to be hit by an IED (improvised explosive device)."
The Army reservist, who arrived in Iraq in late February as a member of the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Brigade Combat Team, said his life was probably saved because his Humvee had been "up-armored" with reinforced doors and windshield.
Tuiolosega was driving the third Humvee in a convoy of four vehicles about 8 p.m. in a remote agricultural area a mile from the 100th's base camp.
"We had just dropped off my patrol leader," Tuiolosega said, "and were driving up a berm overlooking the main road."
"I was turning. ... That's when it blew. ... At first I thought I had hit the vehicle in front of me. I smelled smoke. I did what I was taught: turned off the engine and stayed in the vehicle."
At that point Tuiolosega said his "feet felt like they were on fire."
He later found out that what exploded right under his side of the Humvee was probably a land mine.
Tuiolosega described the sound of the explosion as "more like a cherry bomb -- pop. ... It took of the bottom floor, tore off the whole engine and bent the steering wheel rod."
He was immediately medevaced to the Army hospital in Germany where he spent a week before being sent to Tripler Army Medical Center.
The explosion only injured Tuiolosega, who suffered a broken left leg and a fracture to his left index and baby fingers. Two other soldiers riding in the Humvee with him escaped injury.
The Army said that 21 Purple Hearts have been awarded so far to soldiers in the 100th Battalion. Two of the Purple Hearts have been awarded to Tuiolosega's Charlie Company.
Tuiolosega said he had driven almost daily on the road where the incident occurred.
"We warned ahead of time. They call it IED Alley but nothing happened until then."
The Army said Tuiolosega, father of three children, will probably spend the rest of his tour at Tripler undergoing rehabilitation and physical therapy.
"I miss the guys," said Tuiolosega said. "I think they are going to miss me since I am the one who is always smiling and usually can make them laugh."
He also was the unofficial cook for his headquarters section who could whip up snacks of rice and New Zealand corn beef or rice and wahoo (ono) for his soldiers.
"I usually warm up a can of corn beef in a coffee maker and then mix it with rice," he said with a smile.
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