L'image a fait le tour des télévisions américaines et de la blogosphère. Josh Hargis, un soldat américain de 24 ans, qui a été sévèrement blessé aux jambes lors d'un attentat suicide en Afghanistan à l'issue duquel quatre de ses camarades ont été tués, est devenu le symbole de la résilience et du courage des soldats qui rejoignent l'armée américaine. Récemment toutefois, son commandant est venu déposer sur son lit d'hôpital un "Purple Heart", un coeur pourpre qui récompense les soldats blessés ou tués durant une guerre. Bien qu'immobilisé, Josh Hargis a trouvé les ressources pour faire un salut militaire en guise de remerciement alors que tout le monde pensait qu'il était encore dans le coma.
La scène a bouleversé toute l'unité militaire à laquelle Josh Hargis appartient ainsi que tout le pays. Or ce dernier a pourtant mille et une peines à entrer dans l'armée en raison d'une grave blessure qu'il avait contractée au fémur après un accident de ski. Il avait dû aller à Washington pour défendre sa cause. Après de multiples démarches, il avait finalement obtenu l'aval du chirurgien en chef. Intégré dans une unité chargée de détecter les bombes, il en était à son quatrième engagement en Afghanistan. Son chien détecteur de bombes a été tué dans l'attentat. Le commandat de Josh Hargis a publié ce message en anglais:
I received this picture today
along with a letter from the commander of the team Josh was a part of on
the night of his injuries. A letter to explain to me what kind of man I
have the privilege of being married to. He explained to me what
happened and what was going on in the picture.
"Josh
was seriously wounded as you know and survived for almost two hours
after his injury before arriving to the hospital. Josh was immediately
pushed through a series of surgeries and emerged hours later into an
intensive care unit here at our base in Afghanistan.
"Despite
being in intense pain and mental duress, Josh remained alert and
compassionate to the limited Rangers that were allowed to visit him
bedside. Prior to Josh being moved to Germany for his eventual flight to
America, we conducted a ceremony to award him with the Purple Heart for
wounds received in action.
"A
simple ceremony, you can picture a room full of Rangers, leaders,
doctors, and nurses surrounding his bedside while the Ranger Regimental
Commander pinned the Purple Heart to his blanket. During the
presentation the Commander publishes the official orders verbally and
leaned over Josh to thank him for his sacrifice.
"Josh,
whom everybody in the room (over 50 people) assumed to be unconscious,
began to move his right arm under the blanket in a diligent effort to
salute the Commander as is customary during these ceremonies. Despite
his wounds, wrappings, tubes, and pain, Josh fought the doctor who was
trying to restrain his right arm and rendered the most beautiful salute
any person in that room had ever seen. I cannot impart on you the level
of emotion that poured through the intensive care unit that day.
"Grown
men began to weep and we were speechless at a gesture that speak
volumes about Josh's courage and character. The picture, which we
believe belongs on every news channel and every newspaper, is attached. I
have it hanging above my desk now and will remember it as the single
greatest event I have witnessed in my ten years in the Army."
