Grants grad injured in Iraq

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

Michael Brown

GRANTS — Michael Brown, 21, who was a 2004 Grants High School graduate and is now a mortarman and private first class in the U.S. Army's 10th Cavalry, 4th Infantry Division, was critically injured in South Baghdad during a patrol while riding in a Humvee on Saturday, his father Richard Brown said Tuesday afternoon.

The Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb, he said.

"Michael was stationed in Southern Iraq until June when he was transferred to Baghdad," Richard Brown said.

"He wasn't seeing much action in the south, but his platoon has seen action almost every day since arriving in Baghdad, and they have taken some pretty severe losses," he said.

Michael Brown was airlifted from Iraq to the medical center and arrived Tuesday afternoon, his father said. Brooks Army Medical Center has a large medical burn unit which treats military members from all armed services and is considered one of the best facilities in the United States by health care experts.

Family members of Brown are flying out today to the center, which is in San Antonio, Texas, to visit him.

"They told us he is in critical condition. He suffered 25-30 percent burns to his body and his throat.

"It's the throat they are worried about," he said. "There are no other injuries that I am aware of."

Brown said he was contacted by the Army's casuality unit about 7 p.m., Saturday.

"Michael was injured about 3:30 p.m., Iraq time," Brown said. Iraq is nine hours ahead of New Mexico time.

Medics or doctors performed a tracheotomy to enable Michael to breathe following the bomb attack, Brown said.

Michael Brown attended the University of New Mexico for a year before he joined the Army in 2005. He graduated from basic training in September of last year at Ft. Benning, Ga.

As an experienced combat Marine, Richard Brown knows the risks and reality of war well.

He was in a Marine reconnaissance battalion for 11 years. Following that he was a police officer and detective sergeant with the Grants Police Department for 16 years.

"Our prayers and hopes are with Richard and his family," said Grants Police Chief Marty Vigil.

"We hope Michael fully recovers from his injuries," he said.

"I still fully support our troops and commitment in Iraq," Brown said, "especially the young men and women serving their country."

He did not know, as of late Tuesday evening, when the family would be flying to Texas today or whether by military or civilian aircraft. He said the military was paying for the flight but had not yet contacted him.

Brown asks for prayers to help his son recover from his injuries.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin, call (505) 287-2197 or e-mail: tiffin.independent@yahoo.com.