An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Jan. 4, 2012

Afghanistan: Oklahoma Guard combat medic demonstrates resiliency

By 1st Lt. Donald J. Wilson Task Force Jayhawk

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Spc. Ashley Jones sat in her bed late one night last month at Craig Joint Theatre Hospital on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, waiting to join the solemn group of Soldiers who were being awarded the Purple Heart.

Jones' convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device and she received wounds which made her the first amputee in the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, or IBCT. However, despite her injuries she is in good spirits laughing
and joking with friends from her unit.

More than 30 of her friends watched as Jones was presented with the Purple Heart on Dec. 19 by Army Brig. Gen. Gary Volesky, deputy commanding general for maneuver with Combined Joint Task Force-1, for wounds received the previous day.

"You aren't given this award. You have to earn it in combat," said Voleski as he explained the significance of the award. "Those who wear it don't do so for themselves, but they wear it for those who serve with them."

Raised in the small town of Cleveland, Okla., Jones was 17 years old when she joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard to aid with college costs. After her first semester at Tulsa Community College, the call came for Jones to prepare for deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Jones is assigned to Company C, 700 Brigade Support Battalion, 45th IBCT (Charlie Med) as a combat medic located at Forward Operating Base Kalagush. She often traveled on convoys to provide medical support.

"I don't want to have to do my job, but I will when I need to," said Jones. She further went on to explain that combat medics do their most demanding work when others are at their worst.

"All of the Soldiers in the 45th IBCT are strong and resilient, have done their duty, and can hang their head high," said Army Col. Michael Kinnison, the Bagram Airfield base operations officer-in-charge and a member of the
45th IBCT.

Recently, Jones was involved in a firefight and earned the Combat Medic Badge for being engaged by the enemy and treating a fellow Soldier.

In a separate incident, she was required to aid in removing a patient from the battlefield for more advanced care.

"Just a week ago I had to MEDEVAC [medically evacuate] someone and now here I am," she said, reflecting on being on the other end of the patient-medic relationship.

After Jones returns home she plans to go back to college.

"I want to transfer to OSU (Oklahoma State University) and get a degree in medicine to eventually become a registered nurse," she said. In spite of her challenges she plans to stay in the Oklahoma Army National Guard and continue to help those around her.

 

 

Related Articles
Cara Loken, Reserve component transition assistance adviser for the Nebraska National Guard and spouse of John Loken, commander of the 155th Maintenance Group, has been named the 2024 Air Force Association Air National Guard Spouse of the Year. The award recognizes the contributions of spouses of Air Force personnel across Active Duty, Guard and Reserve components.
Nebraska Woman is Air National Guard Spouse of the Year
By Senior Master Sgt. Shannon Nielsen, | Feb. 14, 2025
LINCOLN, Neb. - Cara Loken, reserve component transition assistance adviser for the Nebraska National Guard, has been named the 2024 Air Force Association Air National Guard Spouse of the Year.This prestigious Air Force...

The 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, marks the arrival of its new helicopter, a U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II, Jan. 31, 2025, at Moffett Air National Guard Base near Mountain View, California. The wing is from HH-60G Pave Hawk model helicopters.
California Air Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing Upgrading Aircraft
By Senior Airman Serena Smith, | Feb. 14, 2025
MOFFETT AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif.- The U.S. Air Force 129th Rescue Wing is replacing the HH-60G Pave Hawk with six newer HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters.The first two helicopters arrived this month and the wing plans...

The seven-Soldier team representing the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion (Linguist), 56th Theatre Information Operations Group, Washington National Guard, participates in the Voice Intercept Challenge during the seventh annual Best Linguist Competition Feb. 6, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Washington National Guard won the  2024 300th Military Intelligence Brigade (Linguist) Command Language Program of the Year Award.
Washington Guard Linguists Excel at Best Linguist Competition
By Staff Sgt. Kelly Wiebe, | Feb. 14, 2025
SALT LAKE CITY - Seven Soldiers with the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion (Linguist), 56th Theatre Information Operations Group, Washington National Guard, competed in the seventh annual Best Linguist Competition Feb...