You are not alone. That’s the message severely wounded Iraqi War Veteran Shilo Harris is taking on the road as part of a nation-wide tour to promote the book “Steel Will: My Journey Through Hell To Become The Man I Was Meant To Be.” During his stop in Bloomington last week, Harris spoke with WGLT’s Colleen Reynolds.
Harris says the vision of the burning, crumbling towers of the World Trade Center on 911 prompted him to enlist in the U S Army. The son of a Vietnam veteran, Harris’ life changed February 19, 2007 when his armored vehicle, patrolling a notoriously dangerous road in southern Bagdad, was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED), killing three of his fellow soldiers and wounding the driver.
Harris describes in graphic detail how he received third-degree burns over nearly 40% of his body after he miraculously managed escape by moving a several hundred-pound door of his burning armored vehicle.
“I was standing there and my body armor was melting because it was made of like a nylon or plastic material and that material was melting and running down my leg and it started burning me right then.” He continued, “I took the body armor off, got it on the ground and on second glance I realized it was my amo (ammunition) pouches that were on fire. I guess you could say I was pretty fortunate on a couple of accounts that day.”
But, after emerging from a medically-induced coma, 48 days later, Harris realized the full extent of his injuries : the loss of both of his ears, the tip of his nose and three fingers, a broken collarbone and fractured vertebrae. He was also left with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Harris has endured an estimated 75 surgeries, including a ground-breaking attempt to regrow his fingers using stem cells. He lost count of the actual number of surgeries because he says several of the procedures have been done at one time, coordinating doctors from various specialties to save money on anesthesia and other costs.
The Costs of War
But, Harris says worse than the six-hours of daily wound care and three-times-a-day physical therapy was his PTSD which drove him to heavy drinking and to the brink of suicide when he ended up with a gun to his head. He managed not to pull the trigger. That’s his motivation for writing the book with his now, ex-wife Kathreyn who was his caretaker until 2012 when they decided to get a divorce. He wants to make sure other vets use resources, including their support system and talk about their experiences.
His divorce followed a time in the spotlight where he enjoyed mini-celebrity status, meeting stars such as Julia Roberts. In December of 2012, the family was featured on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” Christmas special. Despite having a new ranch-style home built for his family including daughter Lizzy and son Glen, Harris said the caretaking and PTSD took its toll.
“She (then-wife Kathreyn) had to dress my wounds, she had to bathe me.” He said the explosion affected the entire family and his children have been in counseling. As for his marriage, Harris says he felt like he needed to set his wife free. “Generally you say through sickness and through health but then you say, ‘What the hell is this? Did I sign up for this?’" He thought writing the book with Kathreyn would help the marriage but he says it only highlighted deeper issues.
Harris wants veterans and their families to use every resource available and he lists them onhis website.
“You are not alone. You are loved and there are amazing organizations out there. Harris’ message to any vet who is struggling? “Get on your phone, call your buddy, call your command, call somebody. There are so many resources out there. You just have to go out there an experience them.”
Here is more from Harris in this Sound Ideas interview with WGLT Correspondent Colleen Reynolds.
