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May 22, 2007
Captain Furat Strides Towards a New Life
Two months ago Captain Furat began walking again! A reader send me a news story about his recovery at a hospital in Atlanta.
Every morning, he leaves his Atlanta apartment, gets on a bus, and rides to the Shepherd Center. There, he spends his mornings in the library, teaching himself English, and working on his book, “I Am Iraqi”. In the afternoon, he heads to the gym, where he exercises his upper body. Then, he straps on his leg braces and grabs his walker, and goes for a walk in the rehabilitation center’s gardens.Furat’s exuberance for recovery is fueled by his desire to re-join the fight in Iraq. "I want to say, for the terrorists, Captain Furat is back. And I want to clean, not just my country but the World of the terrorists,” he said during a stroll at the Shepherd Center.
Furat says he is inspired by the American and Iraqi soldiers who are fighting for his country’s freedom. "I want to say, for any American parents, who have a son or daughter in Iraq, thank you, thank you, thank you from all my heart. And I pray for any son or daughter who has died in Iraq, to give freedom to my country, I pray for them all my life."
From the WRBL New 3 story linked to above:
"Furat (left) on one of his daily walks in the garden at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta "(caption from story)
Be sure and go to the WRBL story for videos of Furat explaining how he came to be called "Rambo" and about the ambush by the terrorists that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
In the last report on Furat I had a year ago he was quite dispirited. But our prayers have been answered, he is in good spirits and getting better!
Furat's Story
Furat (his first name, the family name held secret to protect his family) is the Iraqi hero first brought to us by Maya Alleruzzo in a January 2006 Washington Times story which I linked to in a story here on Redhunter.
As you may recall, Furat had been a special forces soldier in Saddam's army, who then joined the new Iraqi Army after OIF. He became somewhat famous for his courage under fire and his ability to lead men in numerous battles against the terrorist insurgents. His fighting prowess was all the more impressive when you consider that he and his soldiers sallied forth in unarmored Nissan pickup trucks.
He was the hope of the new Iraq.
In December 2005 Furat went home to visit his mother, a Christian. On Christmas Day four terrorists attacked Furat in his car. He killed one, but the remaining three hit Furat 12 times with bullets from their AK-47s. One struck his spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
Probably due at least in part to Alleruzzo's reporting, sevaral Americans took a personal interest in Furat. They raised enough money to bring him to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, a rehabilitation hospital which specializes "in the treatment of people with spinal cord injuries".
Furat in Iraq
After Saddam's army dissolved during the invasion of March and April of 2003, Furat found himself out of a job. When the coalition began to recruit soldiers for the new Iraqi Army, Furat joined, becoming part of the "Tiger Battalion" which was stationed in Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad.
Alleruzzo accompanied Furat on several missions, including several in which they came under heavy fire from terrorists.
She took some stunning pictures of her time as an inbed with Captain Furat's unit.
In one battle, after one of the trucks in their convoy was hit by an IED, Furat led a counterattack against a group of terrorist insurgents who had attempted to ambush them.
Here are some of Maya's photographs from that fight, via Michael Yon
(captions also via Yon's post)
First Things First: Captain Furat tends to the wounded civilians, providing comfort and security as he commands his men.
Shielding the photographer with his body: Captain Furat returns fire after the enemy followed on the IED with a barrage of small arms fire.
Captain Furat taking control.
Returning fire: the enemy broke contact.
What a brave man. Be sure to keep him in your prayers.
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Captain Furat - Iraqi Hero - Fighting a New Battle
Iraqi War Heroes - Captain Furat Update
Captain Furat, Iraqi Hero
With Men Such as These
Posted by Tom at May 22, 2007 8:00 PM
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