{"id":9821,"date":"2020-02-26T18:51:46","date_gmt":"2020-02-26T23:51:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/damaged-in-body-but-not-in-spirit\/"},"modified":"2020-02-26T18:51:55","modified_gmt":"2020-02-26T23:51:55","slug":"damaged-in-body-but-not-in-spirit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/damaged-in-body-but-not-in-spirit\/","title":{"rendered":"Damaged in body, but not in spirit"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Eric True Blood, Oglala Lakota, and his two daughters, Favel (left) and Averie ( right). (Photo courtesy True Blood family)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Part One of a series<\/p>\n

SHERIDAN, Wyo. \u2013 Eric True Blood, Oglala Lakota from Sheridan, Wyoming, does not consider himself a hero. But many other people, such as this writer, do. However, he consents to being a \u201cwounded warrior\u201d.
\nThis is a short version of how a very strong Native warrior not only survived disaster but has gone on to many other successes, an inspiration.
\nIn July 2011, while serving in the Army Infantry, True Blood stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Afghanistan. Sargent True Blood was a platoon leader, responsible for a four-man squad, conducting foot patrols into Afghanistan villages to develop a better rapport with the natives of that country.
\nThe old re-purposed Russian land mine did massive damage to his lower body and were it not for the expert medical corps, to whom he gives much credit, True Blood could have easily perished near a lonely village in a far off land. Instead, within a few hours he was rescued and helicoptered to Khandahar, Afghanistan, a military base and with a few hours to a VA Medical hospital in Germany. After three days he was stable enough to be moved to the San Antonio, Texas Military Medical Center along with about 20 others similarly wounded. He clearly remembers those first three weeks, a journey into horror.
\nEric spent the next year at the Texas medical facility \u2013 in rehab learning to use a prosthesis which replaced his right leg from the knee down and having a titanium rod surgically interested into the left leg. He will also forever carry shrapnel from the wound.
\nDuring that time, the Army provided support for his mother, Cheryl Phelps and then wife, Sara to be with him. \u201cThey were both tremendous,\u201d he says of them.
\n\u201cWhen I first saw him there, I nearly collapsed,\u201d Cheryl recalls, \u201cbut of all things, he encouraged me to be strong. The Army was wonderful, providing airfare, motel, food etc.\u201d
\nFor most soldiers, that would have ended a military career. Not for Eric. And that is when his real journey with heroism began. He was determined to continue soldiering, his life-long ambition. He comes from a long-line of Oglala warriors: descendent of Red Cloud; his grandfather Tom True Blood voluntarily served as a Marine in Korea and his father, Troy True Blood was a Marine in Vietnam, and now Eric who served a total of 12 years, all honorably discharged and highly decorated. And no doubt, many other extended family members have served as well, including his sister Rachael True Blood, a Navy Veteran who literally sailed the world seas.
\nSince high school, Eric had a military career in mind, enlisting in the Marines at 17. Then, his parents would not sign, encouraging him to enjoy a last carefree and youthful summer. However, in October 2002, turning 18, Eric could no longer be held back shipping out for basic training, enlisting for a four-year stint, which turned out to be twelve.
\nHis father, Troy encouraged Eric: \u201cDon\u2019t be a grunt. Get yourself a skill set and trade that will be useful in civilian life,\u201d he advised.
\nEric\u2019s 12 year military career is studded with accomplishments. After Basic Marine Training in San Diego, he was assigned to Engineering School (heavy equipment), completing that training before assigned to two years in Okinawa, Japan.
\nDestiny, it seemed, drew Eric to more active field duty. In 2004, he went to southeastern Asia, part of a Humanitarian Relief Mission for victims of the Tsunami. \u201cIt was very sad, but uplifting to help,\u201d he noted.
\nAfter that, he completed additional training at Fort Benning, GA, then quickly posted to Iraq, 8th Engineer Support Battalion in Iraq. Finally, in October 2006, he was honorably discharged. Eric does not care to comment about his combat experience, only saying he was good at it and \u201chonored\u201d to do it.
\nAt 22, he returned to Sheridan, working construction and having a child with a woman of Lakota heritage. As a child from a broken home, due in part to his father\u2019s post-Vietnam struggles, Eric was determined that his children would have a stable family life. His father, Troy, now a minister who often counsels troubled Veterans freely admits: \u201cI was a mess after Vietnam, drinking, drugging and playing music with a rock and roll band, not a real healthy life-style, but Eric has managed to avoid that. He is a very strong-minded person.\u201d
\nIn 2008, Eric re-enlisted. Ironically, the Marines would not have him back because of full-sleeve arm and leg tattoos (none on the hands, face or neck) which he had obtained during his Marine days. \u201cInclude that,\u201d Eric encouraged. \u201cMaybe some Marine recruiter will read it and be sorry.\u201d
\nThe Army on the other hand, was very happy to have him. He married the mother of his child so that they could live together on the military base, though as it turned out, Eric would be frequently absent.
\nTo be continued\u2026..<\/p>\n

(Contact Clara Caufield at acheyennevoice@gmail.com<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n

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Visit Original Source<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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Eric True Blood, Oglala Lakota, and his two daughters, Favel (left) and Averie ( right). (Photo courtesy True Blood family) Part One of a series SHERIDAN, Wyo. \u2013 Eric True Blood, Oglala Lakota from Sheridan, Wyoming, does not consider himself a hero. But many other people, such as this writer, <\/p>\n

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Shared by Native Sun News Today<\/a> February 26, 2020<\/p>\n

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