November 21, 2007 at 3:23 p.m.
Iraq veteran's loss of legs doesn't diminish his belief in the military, he tells C.L. high school students
Iraq veteran's loss of legs doesn't diminish his belief in the military, he tells C.L. high school students
His military path eventually brought Kriesel to Iraq, where on a routine patrol call his armored vehicle was hit by an explosive device that killed two of his buddies. Kriesel lost his legs.
He spoke to students at Chisago Lakes High School November 14, in honor of Veteran's Day.
Kriesel doesn't regret his decision to join the military, or go to fight in Iraq, he said.
His first tour of active duty was in 2004 at Kosovo. There, he learned to treasure the simplest things in life and not take them for granted, he said.
"There are kids over there with nothing, and they're still happy," he said.
Upon his return, Kriesel's obligation to the Army was complete. Still, some Guard buddies were interested in doing a tour in Iraq and he decided to sign up. After six months of training in Mississippi, Kriesel was sent first to Kuwait. "To get used to the dry heat," Kriesel explained.
He was eventually headquartered at Camp Fallujah in Iraq, working as team leader on regular patrols throughout surrounding neighborhoods.
On a routine patrol last Dec. 2, Kriesel was riding with his team in a brand-new armored truck. "We had to take the plastic off the seats even," he told the student audience. They were sent to investigate someone digging in the road.
"I remember thinking, there's only one road in and out of that area," Kriesel said. It had been a good day, not too hot, and they were in a good mood, he added.
"All of a sudden, everything changed. There was so much sound, there was no sound, if you know what I mean," Kriesel said.
He felt the sensation of being tossed around and then blacked out. When he awoke, Kriesel first saw the hull of the vehicle, literally shredded.
"I thought, wow, this is a bad day," Kriesel said.
He knew something wasn't right, and then looked down and realized part of his left leg was no longer attached and the right leg "looked like it went through a snowblower."
He heard his buddy calling to him, trying to keep him awake and talking, as chunks of metal from the blown-up truck continued to rain down.
Kriesel's friend continued to talk to him, saying he was going to make it.
"I looked down and saw all the blood and I thought, are you kidding, I'm not going to make it," Kriesel said.
His life truly flashed before his eyes, Kriesel said, but then he spotted an Army helicopter coming on scene and found new resolve to survive.
"I thought -- maybe I am going to make it," Kriesel said.
The transport seemed like an eternity, but in reality was 11 minutes. After being worked on at an airbase, Kriesel was taken to a Kosovo hospital and transferred to Walter Reed Medical Center.
Before being taken out of Iraq, Kriesel's family was notified, including his wife, Katie, at home with two young boys.
"They were told to prepare for the worst, hope for the best," Kriesel said. He lost four-fifths of his body's blood supply and broke his arm and pelvis in addition to losing both legs - one at the knee and one at the thigh.
He woke up at Walter Reed two weeks before Christmas. Everyone visiting him told him they would get him anything he wanted.
"I told them, 'I want to meet the President,'" Kriesel said. "I asked it over and over, they got sick of me."
Eventually, persistence won out and Kriesel not only met President George W. Bush, but it was Bush who pinned the Purple Heart to Kriesel's shirt. He met and spoke with Bush on two more occasions during his hospital stay.
One of the kids asked what President Bush is really like. Kriesel said he's a joker, funny and very sincere. Kriesel also met several celebrities while hospitalized and was visited by Governor Tim Pawlenty.
Today, Kriesel is adjusting to life without legs in his Cottage Grove home. Fundraiser benefits have allowed Kriesel to modify his home for handicap-accessibility.
His boys - ages 5 and 6 - don't mind at all that dad doesn't have legs, Kriesel said.
"Would you ever go back to Iraq?" one student asked.
"In a second I'd serve again, because I believe in it that much and I love my job."
Kriesel's visit to CLHS was arranged by Jon Pieper and was attended by social studies classes during blocks two and three.
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