Salute Seen Around the World

In today’s world it seems, at times, that inspiration is becoming harder and harder to find. Inspiration, when found, can be contagious and positively influential for those that witness the action or event deemed inspirational. These actions deemed inspirational usually come from ordinary people that do an extraordinary thing. Other times it is an incredible person that does an amazing thing that becomes described as inspirational.  These groups or individuals that commit such actions, do so usually not because they think “what is in it for me” but for the fact that it is the right thing to do. Today’s inspiring story comes from a world away inside a Afghanistan military hospital just a week ago from today.

His name is Corporal Josh Hargis, who is an Army Ranger from the 3^rd Army Battalion.  While on duty in Afghanistan, his unit was tasked with trying to find an enemy commander in the area. As Hargis unit were searching the area, an Afghan women wearing a suicide vest detonated the bomb and killed four members of Cpl. Hargis unit and injuring 12 others. For two hours Hargis, who was badly injured which included injuries from shrapnel suffered for two hours before making it to a Afghanistan military hospital. He was one of the lucky ones to survive his intense injuries suffered from the blast of the woman’s bomb. His will to survive should be inspirational in itself but it’s what he did later that was even more incredible. Days after arriving at the hospital his room became flooded with military members, including his commanding officer who was there to present to him the Purple Heart medal, as well as nurses and staff. In all close to fifty people were in the room as Cpl. Hargis lie in his bed, presumed unconscious, and connected to all sorts of tubes and wires.  After the Ranger Regimental Commander pinned the Purple Heart medal to Cpl. Hargis red white and blue blanket, something incredible started to happen. Cpl. Hargis began to struggle to raise his heavily bandaged right hand from underneath the blankets, even fighting the doctor trying to stop him, as he raised his hand to his temple to salute his commander, just as military protocol says. This was an extraordinary act from a young man, who even in pain and being restrained still made an effort to salute. Some of the people in the room began to cry as this bed ridden Army Ranger showed valor and his true strength and character. 

Here are some links to the story: Army Times and NyDailyNews

Here's a video about this Army Ranger: