By Task Force Rakkasan Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan – When Sgt. Brandon Bougades, C Troop, 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment told his reenlistment NCO “Let’s get this done before something happens” during a May 6 conversation, he had no way of knowing how prophetic his statement would be.
The White Sulfur, West Va. native had spoken with Jeffersonville, Indiana’s Sgt 1st Class Robert Waller, Headquarter and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, about adding another six years to his time in the Army.
To make the event special, he scheduled his reenlistment ceremony for May 7 – his 28th birthday.
Just hours prior to the appointed time, as predicted, something happened.
“I told you so,” Bougades would later say as Waller walked into the Forward Operating Base Salerno Combat Support Hospital room where Bougades lay in a bed receiving treatment for his wounds.
While on patrol east of Camp Clark in Khowst Province, Bougades’ vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.
Bougades received wounds to his lower extremities and was rushed by helicopter to the CSH at FOB Salerno.
This would be the third time Bougades has been wounded in combat – something he’s seemed to take in stride. His first complaint to medical personnel wasn’t about pain, but about the appointment it looked like he might miss.
“You can ask the medics,” Bougades said. “From the second I came in I told ‘em , ‘I got to reenlist. I’m supposed to do that today. I still want to.’”
The leaders at FOB Salerno rushed to make it happen, with 3rd BCT commander, Col. Viet Luong taking the lead in the bedside ceremony.
“Being here, to do this is the ultimate honor for me,” Luong told Bougades during the ceremony. “You know what I think of you. I’ve got 6,000 Soldiers and I could have picked you up out of a line-up because of my admiration for your leadership, and I’ve told you that before.”
Bougade reenlisted for stabilization at Fort Campbell, Ky. He said he was happy to continue his career in the military.
“I love this job,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I don’t want to be doing anything else.”
