thedrifter
03-06-07, 02:08 PM
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Wounded three times, soldier returns home
By CUTTER MITCHELL
jmitchellcitizen.com
jmitchell@citizen.com
A Gilford native has returned home after serving seven months with the Marines, getting injured as a result of enemy fire on three occasions while fighting in the Fallugia area of Iraq.
Marine Cpl. Curtis Cota-Robles, who graduated from Gilford High School in 2003, returned to his hometown on Saturday after spending seven months with the 28 Golf Company, which is an infantry division, in Iraq.
As a result of his injuries, Cpl. Cota-Robles received the Purple Heart.
In the seven months Cota-Robles spent in Iraq, he was in the field of one of the most hostile areas of the war-ridden country. Cota-Robles described each day as a constant struggle for survival in honoring his fellow soldiers and serving his beloved country.
The very first week Cota-Robles arrived in the country and reported for duty proved to be a preamble for the rest of the time he spent there.
His unit, instead of being stationed in one of the main base camps, was a field unit. He and his fellow soldiers would find a building along their patrol, fortify it, and reside in that building until it was time to move on.
"We lived outside the wire. We were right in the middle of all of it," said Cota-Robles.
During his first week on the ground, securing a building, Cota-Robles' unit came under heavy machine gun fire from enemy troops. His unit took cover in the building they were securing, pinned down by enemy fire. All they could do was hold out.
A dump truck, driven by insurgents and filled with explosives, drove right into the side of the brick building, enveloping it in explosion. As a result of the attack, Cota-Robles was hit with shrapnel from the explosion and consequently was injured.
"It was a bad deal," said Cota-Robles, who will be honored at a reception beling planned for Saturday afternoon in Gilford.
The most amazing thing about the attack, he said, was the fact that the enemy troops videotaped the dump truck driving into the building, then exploding. Cota-Robles said he was able to watch the whole thing on the Internet after the insurgents posted it on the World Wide Web.
After being patched up, it was only a matter of days before Cota-Robles was back on patrol with his comrades.
A normal day for him consisted of waking up to gunfire, when he managed to sleep, and then heading back on patrol and setting up check points or performing a house raid and seeking out highly valuable targets like al-Qaida operatives.
In addition to capturing al-Qaida operatives and taking down sniper cells, which were a big problem for U.S. forces in that area, his unit also seized weapon caches and other material used against allied troops.
Cota-Robles said the area his unit was in had a large population of enemies who were al-Qaida soldiers, which made the area all the more volatile.
"[Living over there] you never know when your number is next," said Cota-Robles, going on to say that he did not think he would make it back to see his family or friends again. "You try and do what you can, while you have the time."
The last week spent in Iraq, just prior to leaving for home, Cota-Robles was severely wounded in a confrontation that took place while his unit was performing a checkpoint.
While manning the checkpoint on a bridge, his unit came under heavy machine gun fire. Enemy soldiers began blanketing the area with grenades and one insurgent drove up in a car rigged with explosives. After the car exploded, one of his fellow Marines was knocked unconscious from his injuries.
Without thinking twice, Cota-Robles went to the aid of his friend and began treating his wounds. At that time, a grenade was thrown near their position. Cota-Robles used his body to shield the wounded soldier from the explosion.
As a result, the soldier lived and Cota-Robles was severely injured, taking shrapnel to his rib cage and arm. He ended up spending a week in the hospital recovering and to this day he has shrapnel embedded in his rib cage, which might require more surgery.
As a result of his actions on that day, Cota Robles earned the Purple Heart and is being considered for the Bronze Star for his selfless protection of his fellow soldier.
So now that he is back, how does it feel to be home?
"It feels like a dream I haven't woken up from yet," said Cota-Robles.
While he was over in Iraq, there were a few key things he missed from the States, though his unit did receive countless letter and care packages sent by the faculty and students at Gilford Middle School and Laconia Memorial Middle School which he and his friends greatly appreciated.
The one thing Cota-Robles said he could not wait to do when he touched down in the good old U.S. of A. was to drink a cold beer, eat a pizza, and watch some television. He said after going seven months without the things that some might take for granted, one might be surprised at what is missed.
Cota-Robles' brother, Garrett, said it was great to see his younger brother. He was so happy, in fact, that he had a bonfire with all his friends ready to go when he arrived home.
"It's great, but kind of surreal. You always think that the worst could have happened," said Garrett, who added everyone in the family could not be prouder of Curtis.
So what does the future hold for Cota-Robles?
Right after high school, Cota-Robles signed up with the Marines and was sent off to basic training. Prior to being sent off to Iraq, he was stationed for two years in Washington, D.C. where he worked in the White House, protecting the president, and working a few details with former President Ronald Reagan's funeral service.
Cota-Robles said, while he had considered signing up for a second tour of duty, he has decided against that and now wants to pursue a career with a government agency in Washington, D.C. After working with the president and being granted White House clearance, he hopes to join up with the Secret Service or maybe even the National Security Agency.
His service with the Marine Corps ends in July and, until then, he will be training with his unit in Jacksonville, N.C., while it prepares to head back to Iraq in November.
In light of all that he has been through, has Cota-Robles' outlook changed at all?
"I'm definitely a different person than I was before," said Cota-Robles.
During the course of the seven-month tour of service the 28 Golf Company performed, Cota-Robles' unit had five soldiers that were killed in action and countless others go Missing In Action.
He said that, prior to going over to Iraq, he thought he knew what it would be like and was prepared for it; however, that was not the case.
"You don't, unless you've lived outside the wire and did what we did," said Cota-Robles, adding he would not want anyone to go through what he has.
While it is taking some time to adjust to being a back in the States, still finding himself being leery of things that might be potential threats over there, he is adjusting and said he is just happy to be back with family and friends.
On Saturday, a day before Cota-Robles heads back to North Carolina, there will be a reception for Curtis, friends, family and supporters at the Gilford Community Church from 2 to 4 p.m.
Ellie
Wounded three times, soldier returns home
By CUTTER MITCHELL
jmitchellcitizen.com
jmitchell@citizen.com
A Gilford native has returned home after serving seven months with the Marines, getting injured as a result of enemy fire on three occasions while fighting in the Fallugia area of Iraq.
Marine Cpl. Curtis Cota-Robles, who graduated from Gilford High School in 2003, returned to his hometown on Saturday after spending seven months with the 28 Golf Company, which is an infantry division, in Iraq.
As a result of his injuries, Cpl. Cota-Robles received the Purple Heart.
In the seven months Cota-Robles spent in Iraq, he was in the field of one of the most hostile areas of the war-ridden country. Cota-Robles described each day as a constant struggle for survival in honoring his fellow soldiers and serving his beloved country.
The very first week Cota-Robles arrived in the country and reported for duty proved to be a preamble for the rest of the time he spent there.
His unit, instead of being stationed in one of the main base camps, was a field unit. He and his fellow soldiers would find a building along their patrol, fortify it, and reside in that building until it was time to move on.
"We lived outside the wire. We were right in the middle of all of it," said Cota-Robles.
During his first week on the ground, securing a building, Cota-Robles' unit came under heavy machine gun fire from enemy troops. His unit took cover in the building they were securing, pinned down by enemy fire. All they could do was hold out.
A dump truck, driven by insurgents and filled with explosives, drove right into the side of the brick building, enveloping it in explosion. As a result of the attack, Cota-Robles was hit with shrapnel from the explosion and consequently was injured.
"It was a bad deal," said Cota-Robles, who will be honored at a reception beling planned for Saturday afternoon in Gilford.
The most amazing thing about the attack, he said, was the fact that the enemy troops videotaped the dump truck driving into the building, then exploding. Cota-Robles said he was able to watch the whole thing on the Internet after the insurgents posted it on the World Wide Web.
After being patched up, it was only a matter of days before Cota-Robles was back on patrol with his comrades.
A normal day for him consisted of waking up to gunfire, when he managed to sleep, and then heading back on patrol and setting up check points or performing a house raid and seeking out highly valuable targets like al-Qaida operatives.
In addition to capturing al-Qaida operatives and taking down sniper cells, which were a big problem for U.S. forces in that area, his unit also seized weapon caches and other material used against allied troops.
Cota-Robles said the area his unit was in had a large population of enemies who were al-Qaida soldiers, which made the area all the more volatile.
"[Living over there] you never know when your number is next," said Cota-Robles, going on to say that he did not think he would make it back to see his family or friends again. "You try and do what you can, while you have the time."
The last week spent in Iraq, just prior to leaving for home, Cota-Robles was severely wounded in a confrontation that took place while his unit was performing a checkpoint.
While manning the checkpoint on a bridge, his unit came under heavy machine gun fire. Enemy soldiers began blanketing the area with grenades and one insurgent drove up in a car rigged with explosives. After the car exploded, one of his fellow Marines was knocked unconscious from his injuries.
Without thinking twice, Cota-Robles went to the aid of his friend and began treating his wounds. At that time, a grenade was thrown near their position. Cota-Robles used his body to shield the wounded soldier from the explosion.
As a result, the soldier lived and Cota-Robles was severely injured, taking shrapnel to his rib cage and arm. He ended up spending a week in the hospital recovering and to this day he has shrapnel embedded in his rib cage, which might require more surgery.
As a result of his actions on that day, Cota Robles earned the Purple Heart and is being considered for the Bronze Star for his selfless protection of his fellow soldier.
So now that he is back, how does it feel to be home?
"It feels like a dream I haven't woken up from yet," said Cota-Robles.
While he was over in Iraq, there were a few key things he missed from the States, though his unit did receive countless letter and care packages sent by the faculty and students at Gilford Middle School and Laconia Memorial Middle School which he and his friends greatly appreciated.
The one thing Cota-Robles said he could not wait to do when he touched down in the good old U.S. of A. was to drink a cold beer, eat a pizza, and watch some television. He said after going seven months without the things that some might take for granted, one might be surprised at what is missed.
Cota-Robles' brother, Garrett, said it was great to see his younger brother. He was so happy, in fact, that he had a bonfire with all his friends ready to go when he arrived home.
"It's great, but kind of surreal. You always think that the worst could have happened," said Garrett, who added everyone in the family could not be prouder of Curtis.
So what does the future hold for Cota-Robles?
Right after high school, Cota-Robles signed up with the Marines and was sent off to basic training. Prior to being sent off to Iraq, he was stationed for two years in Washington, D.C. where he worked in the White House, protecting the president, and working a few details with former President Ronald Reagan's funeral service.
Cota-Robles said, while he had considered signing up for a second tour of duty, he has decided against that and now wants to pursue a career with a government agency in Washington, D.C. After working with the president and being granted White House clearance, he hopes to join up with the Secret Service or maybe even the National Security Agency.
His service with the Marine Corps ends in July and, until then, he will be training with his unit in Jacksonville, N.C., while it prepares to head back to Iraq in November.
In light of all that he has been through, has Cota-Robles' outlook changed at all?
"I'm definitely a different person than I was before," said Cota-Robles.
During the course of the seven-month tour of service the 28 Golf Company performed, Cota-Robles' unit had five soldiers that were killed in action and countless others go Missing In Action.
He said that, prior to going over to Iraq, he thought he knew what it would be like and was prepared for it; however, that was not the case.
"You don't, unless you've lived outside the wire and did what we did," said Cota-Robles, adding he would not want anyone to go through what he has.
While it is taking some time to adjust to being a back in the States, still finding himself being leery of things that might be potential threats over there, he is adjusting and said he is just happy to be back with family and friends.
On Saturday, a day before Cota-Robles heads back to North Carolina, there will be a reception for Curtis, friends, family and supporters at the Gilford Community Church from 2 to 4 p.m.
Ellie