Soldier reenlists after being wounded in action

By U.S. Army 1st Lt. R.J. Peek, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, 101st Airborne DivisionSeptember 20, 2010

TF Iron Rakkasan Soldier reenlists after being wounded in action
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John Campbell, 101st Airborne Division commander, stands over the bed of U.S. Army Sgt. William Bickers Sept. 16 on Bagram Airfield. Campbell presented Bickers with the Combat Infantryman's Badge for his direct engagement with the... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
TF Iron Rakkasan Soldier reenlists after being wounded in action
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Sgt. William Bickers shakes hands with Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Schroeder, the command sergeant major for Combined Joint Task Force 101, Sept. 16 on Bagram Airfield. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John Campbell, 101st Airborne Division commander, award... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
TF Iron Rakkasan Soldier reenlists after being wounded in action
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – After being wounded in action while on a foot patrol in Andar District, Ghazni Province, U.S. Army Sgt. William Bickers reenlists for an additional two years Sept. 16 in the hospital on Bagram Air Field. Bickers' platoon leader, U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Bra... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The Soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, Iron Rakkasan, has some tough Soldiers. U.S. Army Sgt. William Bickers from Cincinnati, a mortar man for Battlehard Company, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, epitomized that strength Sept. 16.

While conducting a foot patrol through Andar District, Bickers and his platoon came under contact from insurgents using AK47s and rocket-propelled grenades. Two Soldiers sustained injuries in the attack before they were able to force the insurgents to flee. Bickers took a gunshot to his left arm and was evacuated to Forward Operating Base Ghazni for medical care. He was later moved to Bagram Airfield for higher-level treatment.

Being shot was only the beginning for Bickers. While lying in a hospital bed recovering from his injuries and surgery, Bickers was visited by U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John Campbell, 101st Airborne Div. commander. Campbell presented Bickers with two awards that day. The first was the Combat Infantryman's Badge for his direct engagement with the enemy. The second was a Purple Heart for being wounded in the line of duty.

After receiving the two awards, Bickers showed his true inner-strength. Despite having just been wounded in action, Bickers elected to reenlist for an additional two years of military service. Campbell stood beside Bickers' hospital bed Sept. 16 as his platoon leader, U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Brady Juelson from Palm Coast, Fla., administered the oath of enlistment as Bickers held up his uninjured right hand. Juelson was also wounded in the engagement.

"I was wounded less than nine hours ago in a firefight," said Bickers. "I am reenlisting now because I love the Army and this unit. Bad things happen, but this will not change my mind about supporting my unit and my country."

U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Fivecoat from Delaware, Ohio, 3rd Battalion commander, 187th Infantry, said, "Bickers has shown exceptional strength and courage. He is an excellent Soldier and leader, and we are proud to have him stay part of the Iron Rakkasan team for another two years."

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