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| Myself with injured soldier Claramon. In this photo, he shows me an X-ray that was done on his foot. |
TWIST Editor Note: The SM Foundation, last April, invited me to visit a ward at the AFP Medical Center. This is a place where our beloved soldiers, injured from the battlefield, recuperate until they, hopefully, fully recover. I wrote this for the Philippine Daily Inquirer but has yet to be published. I was able to interview several soldiers, but I decided to use only one interview for this particular article. I shall share the other soldiers' stories soon. For now, let's take inspiration from this one brave soldier. - Ken
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For the men fighting to protect their fellow citizens from extremist groups, it's either they lose their limbs or, worse, their lives.
We often hear how soldiers risk their lives every day in
combat operations to provide a blanket of security for the country. But for
soldiers who have been injured in action—some taking bullets in their legs or
arms, it couldn’t get any more real than this.
One of the courageous soldiers who was injured in battle was
Staff Sergeant Lucio Claramon, 42 years old, who hails from Lanao del Norte.
While conducting combat operations in Agusan del Norte last
February, Claramon, together with 56 other soldiers, had an encounter with
members of the NPA. When they started hearing gun shots, they dropped
immediately to the ground.
It was then that the unthinkable happened. Claramon felt a
bullet enter through his right foot while he was on his belly. This left a hole
(the size of a baby’s fist) right smack at the center of his right foot as if
someone drew a nail through it.
Fortunately for Claramon, he was transferred right away to
the AFP Medical Center Heroes’ Ward, where he is now receiving treatment and
round-the-clock monitoring from competent doctors and nurses.
Claramon is one of the many soldiers benefiting from the
rehabilitated ward, which the SM Foundation repaired and beautified so soldiers
like him can have a more peaceful and relaxed environment to recuperate.
“The primary purpose of the hospital and the center is to
serve the 120-strong soldier and officer corps of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines,” said Commander Jerome Ochoco. “Actual battle casualties who
survive encounters are brought here to recover.”
The Heroes Ward, with 50 beds, is mainly for patients
needing orthopaedic treatments, or those whose injury involves damaged bones.
Because bones take time to heal, soldiers usually stay in the hospital for
three months to a full year.
As for Claramon, who has already undergone several
operations, he just feels lucky that he is alive, especially when a civilian
“asset” who was with them when the accident happened lost his life.
“Mahigit 22 years na ako sa serbisyo pero ngayon lang ako
nagka-injury ng ganito. Bilib ako sa
treatment dito at sa facilities ng
hospital. Yung mga nurses, pinapatawa kami. Pag nababato kami,
nagbabasa kami ng magazines o
naglalaro ng Chess,” Claramon said.
Claramon is already seeing progress. When he first got in
the hospital, the injury is so painful he is forced to relieve himself in the
bed. But now, he is starting to feel some strength return to it.
Despite everything, Claramon's parting words were: "Babalik ako sa
serbisyo pag magaling na ako."
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