Saipan soldier recovering

CNMI soldier Joshua Stein is now in a stable condition after being hit by an explosive, resulting in the loss of his legs, while on a mission in Iraq.

Stein’s father, retired military and former executive director of the Workforce Investment Agency Jesse Stein, said in an e-mail message that his son was to be flown out of Germany Saturday to the Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

The young Stein, who was with the Combat Engineers, survived a roadside bomb explosion while clearing roadways of obstacles for convoys.

While on his mission, an improvised exploding device had gone off next to the Bradley Fighting Vehicle that he was driving.

The explosion apparently penetrated through the driver side, which is how he sustained his injuries, said Jesse Stein.

The explosion apparently penetrated through the driver side, which is how he sustained his injuries, said Jesse Stein.

“Due to the blast, Josh lost both his legs, received extensive damage to his left arm (they were able to repair and save his arm) and broken right arm, burns to his face and minor eye injury,” he said.

He said that, according to his son’s military commander, Josh was the only one that was severely injured by the explosion.

QUICK ACTION

Based on the commander’s report, all soldiers inside the Bradley would have died “without Joshua’s quick reaction” as the vehicle was about to flip to one side on an embankment when the bomb exploded. Josh managed to control the vehicle and made it to stop.

He reportedly tried to pop his hatch open and was struggling to get out because the vehicle was starting to catch fire from the fuel line. Jesse’s Stein said that, after much struggle, Joshua’s companions were able to pull his son from the damaged vehicle and performed first aid on him.

“The last thing Josh said before going unconscious was, ‘Did everyone make it out safely?’” Jesse Stein said.

Further, he said that, according to his son’s wife, Nicole Burger Stein, “his spirit is high and is still the same old Josh, always funny.”

He said Nicole and Josh will be flying to Texas Saturday to continue receiving treatment for his injuries.

Jesse Stein said he would also fly to Los Angeles Sunday to pick up Joshua’s only sibling to go to Texas.

The Stein family expressed thanks to the CNMI community “for your prayers and support for my son Josh and his wife Nicole.”

“This community has shown the love and support for our soldiers serving their country. I thank also his uncles and aunties [who] have assisted me through this ordeal. My son is a warrior from the CNMI and will continue to show that. As I depart the CNMI, I will bring with me the entire community in my heart and give it to him,” said Jesse Stein.