11- “In Their Boots”- Alan Babin and his Survival and Struggle
Thursday, June 19th, 2008
This is a special episode of H21-Southern Branch-Austin, Texas, chapter of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association. We publish this because of a special event that occurred–the premiere screening of the first in a series of a documentary video that concerns the returning veterans from the Middle East.
As you will hear in the audio mp3 file of this podcast episode, the screening was for the first episode of a multi-year project called In Their Boots. This will be a video, and it will be broadcast weekly from the first episode on 2 July 2008. However, this will not be on television. Rather, it will be on the web at http://www.intheirboots.com.
What was so special about this screening? It centered around a local hero in the Central Texas area–Alan Babin. Yes, his story will be the first in this series which will be broadcast live on the web on July 2nd, 2008:
As you may remember from our earlier podcast episode number 5 that described the ceremonies from the Memorial Day event in Pflugerville, Texas, Alan Babin was honored by the members of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association:
As a wounded warrior from Operation Iraqi Freedom, Alan’s spirit and dedication touched the heart of all the CIB Association members.
Even though Alan Babin was not an Infantryman with an MOS of 11B, he was a medic that was wounded while trying to aid an Infantryman that needed medical assistance under fire from the enemy. Thus, he was the veteran-of-honor at the Memorial Day ceremony when he took the wreath of his beloved 82nd Airborne Division Association and delivered it to rest alongside the other flowers and wreaths to pay tribute to those who have fallen in all the wars and all the campaigns for the U.S. military.
What was encouraging is that this was Alan’s first time in his iBot (self-propelled wheelchair) and did not need assistance in going to lay the wreath. Rosie Babin, his mother, provided this footage of video that captured the moment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqMgTzGDJfM
The aftermath of Alan Babin’s struggle for recovery is one of the most inspiring role-models of courage, determination, attitude and “guts” that would make any combat infantryman proud to know this young man.
Alan Babin, we salute you, and we thank you for teaching us the meaning of the word “hero”–not just in combat, but also for the courage it takes in recovery and success, for we know that you will make it. Airborne! All the Way!
In Their Boots premieres on 2 July 2008 with the story of the Babin family and Alan’s experiences of his recovery. Take it from us, this is one episode you do not want to miss.
Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation and the 82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus. All Rights Reserved.