In the West Point Audience Tonight
EmailIn the audience tonight, a West Point graduate and Army veteran who lost both legs in Afghanistan: First Lt. Dan Berschinski.
Berschinski stepped on an IED on August 19, 2009 while his unit — the Second Platoon of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment – secured a village.
Berschinski's right leg was amputated at the hip; his left leg was amputated above his knee.
As one account of the incident from the News Tribune recalled it: "The explosion – the second he would survive that day – threw him against a house, shattering his left arm and breaking his jaw. He bounced off the wall and slid upside down into the blast crater. The 25-year-old Georgia native reached down to feel his legs and felt nothing.
"His helmet slipped over his eyes; he ripped it off and threw it to the side. Soldiers yelled at him to keep his eyes open. He couldn't see anything. Every few minutes he felt himself start to drift. His eyelids felt heavy. And then his first sergeant would be screaming at him again.
"He remembers the hot air of a helicopter rotor blowing over him and swirling the dust. His memories begin to muddle. Was it the medevac chopper dispatched from nearby Kandahar Air Field? Or was it one of the OH-58D Kiowas providing air support overhead? The memories of that moment fade with the scene in the orchards of Kandahar province – the night 21/2 months ago when Lt. Dan Berschinski felt the life draining from his broken body."
A former cross country runner and soccer player, Berschinski has spent much of his time since the incident in Ward 57 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
"I feel bad that I'm in here while my platoon is out there fighting," Berschinski told the News Tribune. "I know there's not much I can do about it now. There's really nothing to do. But that doesn't make it any easier."
You can read another story about this brave American HERE.
You can write him here:
Lt. Dan Berschinski
c/o Walter Reed Medical Hospital
Bldg. 2, Ward 57
6900 Georgia Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20307
- jpt
Santorum: Money Will Not Defeat Obama, Ideas Will 
Rick Santorum's Full Speech at CPAC 2012
I oppose the wars both in Afghanistan and in Iraq. They drain lives and resoucres from this country. Furthermore, we will never defeat terrorism until we eliminate the world’s addiction to oil, since that is the source of all terrorist revenue.
That said, I give Obama kudos for his speech. It eloquently expressed what we need to do. I want all the troops home ASAP. I am glad that Obama has given us a time line of sorts. (albeit, unlike frozen ideologues, he is flexible enough to change his mind.) And I am glad he has made it clear to the people of Afghanistan that we do NOT want to occupy their country. The sooner they can take the responsibility of ending violence, the sooner we can come home. I appreciate Obama for elucidating that goal. I just pray that it’s sooner, not later.
Posted by: William Joseph Miller | December 1, 2009, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm
Thank you Jack for posting on this incredible young man. God Bless him and all of brave soldiers who sacrifice so much for all of us.
Posted by: diana | December 1, 2009, 9:01 pm 9:01 pm
And I will write to him. Thanks Mr. President for speaking calmly, while being the Adult, the leader and the Commander in Chief.
Posted by: sara | December 1, 2009, 9:56 pm 9:56 pm
In the audience shots there were many
snoozy visages, some even asleep. The
cameramen who zeroed in on these “less
than impressed” cadets will be added
to the unemployment rolls, toute de
suite.
Posted by: grizzlybare | December 1, 2009, 11:21 pm 11:21 pm
Chris Matthews of MSNBC felt West Point was the wrong venue for President Obama’s speech on the War in Afghanistan: “I saw if not resentment, skepticism. I didn’t see a lot of warmth in that crowd out there, uh, the president chose to address tonight. And I think that is interesting. He went to maybe the enemy camp tonight to make his case.”
Posted by: Jenn | December 2, 2009, 7:38 am 7:38 am
Lt Dan How nice to meet him. God Bless our country. Keep us safe from the inside and outside invaders who want to destroy us. I want to help the soldiers at Walter Reed Army Hospital in DC as I live just outside the city. I hope I can register to help. Patridia
Posted by: Patricia Schaefer | December 2, 2009, 10:08 am 10:08 am
***
Comrade Obama (PBUH) announced that we will be leaving in 18 months–win, lose, or draw. If we don’t have any need to be there–leave now. If we do need to “win” there–then fight until hell freezes over.
***
Rocketman
***
Posted by: John Bibb | December 2, 2009, 11:04 am 11:04 am
Chris Matthews of MSNBC felt West Point was the wrong venue for President Obama’s speech on the War in Afghanistan: Posted by: Jenn
- well, then, that certainly settles the matter, Chris Matthews, sage of the new century..
- next Michelle Malkin will give a short dissertation on why Bush was the greatest and most successful president in american history
Posted by: Oh Yeah | December 2, 2009, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
My son attends the Naval Academy. He has many friends at WP. Word is, they were told ahead of time to be respectful or their careers as officers would be over. They also decided to WASH THEIR HANDS as soon as they could after shaking obamas hand. Our military has a very clear picture of who the “commander in chief”is.
Posted by: mjishernameo | December 2, 2009, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm
They also decided to WASH THEIR HANDS as soon as they could after shaking obamas hand.
___________________________________
Oh sure, all those young cadets clamouring to shake the President’s hand and wish him well, immediately ran away in disgust afterword. Your post rings phony, phony, phony.
Posted by: tierra | December 2, 2009, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
tierra:
It’s true. Every word. And its just stupid of you to interpret the statement as they need to line up in the washroom….it was a STATEMENT of how they felt about shaking this persons hand…. Why would it bother you so much? Why do you spend ALL of your time defending Obama? It really makes you seem like a pre-teen in love..
Most military, just like most medical professionals are disgusted by this administration….Most thinkers are.
Posted by: mjishernameo | December 2, 2009, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
the ‘snoozy visages’ of the cadets did not (necessarily) mean that they were ‘less than impressed,’ grizzlybare. fact is that these (college, let us not forget) kids are up at 5:30, and keep an insanely intense schedule of academics (math/science-based), athletics, military drill, etc – EVERY day. If johnny at state U did that (as opposed to having his first art history class at 11am), I suspect he’d be a bit groggy, too..
Posted by: joe s | December 2, 2009, 6:00 pm 6:00 pm
In contrast to the individuals who have been duped by this pathological liar and his minions, those who think logically and rationally are opposed to these outrageous attempts to destroy the economy and ultimately our freedoms under the guise of “health care reform” which is NOT what this bill does. It is purely pork and the expansion of government for no good cause. It will increase the corruption that is rampant in this administration and steal from the hard working people, punish small businesses, discourage innovation…and do absolutely NOTHING for health care delivery or quality. And it will cost EVERYONE more…
One would have to be mentally disabled not to see that.
Posted by: mjishernameo | December 2, 2009, 10:14 pm 10:14 pm
You might consider, that beyond being up at 5:30am, these cadets were there, waiting in their seats approximately 4 hours PRIOR to the speech… having much studying yet to do after the event which ended about 9pm their time. Stop your ignorant petty observations and focus on our real issues as well as just being thankful as hell that there are those who feel the need to go through this rigorous self discipline to serve “their country” and yours.
Posted by: bostonsobe | December 2, 2009, 11:13 pm 11:13 pm
And perhaps you haven’t noticed that MORE voters OPPOSE Obama, Obamas “HC reform”, Obamas “cap and trade”, Obamas “stimulus”….The MAJORITY OPPOSE.
He couldn’t get elected today.
He likely got elected with the help of ACORN, SEIU, and in MY town, the Black panthers….I saw that one first hand.
So…maybe you should get out more and see what’s REALLY going on in Amercia
Posted by: mjishernameo | December 3, 2009, 8:35 am 8:35 am
Jemma:
hahahahahahahahaha! Oh my, that’s a good one..
You would be shocked to know that I teach at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ…and as such, I’m with young people all day. I also own a couple myself, lol..and I actually WAS one at one time.
Youth is wasting on the foolish. the young.
Hey, I voted for carter ok? So, I understand your ignorance.
The young people I talk to everyday don’t see things your way…
so maybe YOU need to talk to someone over 30 once in awhile…or a grad student or ten.
Good Luck with all that blind adoration…at least my generation knew to question authority. And the dems ARE the AUTHORITY…and they are hungry for MORE and MORE authority. Perhaps you should entertain that thought.
Posted by: mjishernameo | December 3, 2009, 12:42 pm 12:42 pm
Perhaps that is the difference between teachers assistants and full professors. Thinkers.
Posted by: mjishernameo | December 3, 2009, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm
Jemma:
Two words of advice:
Question Authority.
And good luck in your teaching vocation.
Posted by: mjishernameo | December 3, 2009, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm