Help War Veteran Brian Smith
Thursday, April 29, 2010
By Megan Smith and
Albert Countryman Jr.
Brian Smith has served his country since 1995, including two tours in Iraq, and returned home in 2009.
Due to a tragic burst double brain aneurysm, now he needs help from American citizens.
To aid in this effort, the Metro Diner on Route 130 in Brooklawn will donate 10 percent of all proceeds May 3 and 4 to Brian Smith, who is now in rehabilitating from his illness and is not eligible for disability.
Also, this week the owners put a donation jar near the cashier to collect donations until May 4.
“All money will go directly toward paying Brian’s health care bills,” the owners said.
Brian Smith was raised in Washington Township. He attended school there, and at St. Augustine’s Prep in Richmond.
Currently, he lives in Woodbury. His parents, Frank and Mary Jane Smith, are residents of Williamstown.
In 1995, Brian had enlisted in U.S Army Infantry. He did his basic training at Fort Benning, GA, and then was
stationed in Fort Lewis, WA, with the D. C. 1-23rd Infantry as a dismount/driver for Bradley fighting vehicles.
From 1996-’97, he served in the Republic of South Korea with C.co 1st battalion 9th infantry regiment. He was a dismount team leader/ gunner for a Bradley.
In 1997-’98, Brian was stationed at Fort Hood, TX with A.co 2nd battalion 4th infantry as headquarters platoon sniper.
He received an honorable discharge from active duty in 1998 and joined the New Jersey National Guard, attached to the A. co 1-114th infantry battalion.
From 2004-05, he served with the multinational force and observers in Mount Sinai, Egypt with A.co 1-114th as a Team Leader.
In 2006, Brian volunteered for Iraq with the 3-103rd Armor infantry detachment from the PA National Guard. He was stationed in Camp Corregidor, Ramadi, Iraq. He was a dismount team leader/ gun truck commander.
Then, in 2008-09, Brian made his second Iraq tour with C. co 1-114th infantry from NJ, in charge of operations at Camp Cropper strategic debriefing center, Baghdad.
Brian returned home from Iraq in June 2009. Then on November 10, 2009, he was rushed to Underwood Hospital after experiencing seizures.
They found blood in his brain and he was diagnosed with a burst double aneurysm, and he was rushed to Jefferson Neurological Hospital in Philadelphia for surgery.
Brian’s case was complicated by a case of pneumonia he had, which weakened him greatly, and his youth, which put him at greater risk for vessel spasms in the brain.
Over the course of his stay in Jefferson he had five angioplasties in addition to his aneurysm and other surgeries, and spent over a month in an induced coma.
The doctors, nurses, and staff at Jefferson were wonderful, though, and by late December Brian was able to be moved to Magee Rehabilitation Hospital to continue his treatment.
When Brian went to apply for disability benefits, he found out that he was ineligible.
Apparently, the US Army and the NJ National Guard do not pay into NJ disability benefits, so if a soldier becomes disabled once deactivated from an injury seemingly unrelated to service, there is no pool of resources to be assisted through.
Consequently, Brian has not received any unemployment or disability since November.
Brian continues to go to Magee’s outpatient center in South Philadelphia for physical, occupational and speech therapy, and is working hard to continue his recovery.
For more information, go to benefitingbrain.webs.-com. To lend a hand, visit the Metro Diner or call 456-3690.
SOURCE GLOUCESTER CITY NEWS
