We Salute You—
SGT. DON WEGESEND

April of 2004, my brother, Sgt. Don Wegesend, was shot and wounded in a gun battle the lasted for hours. He led his Squad in an alley way of the
town chasing insurgents that were spotted earlier and on that mission he took a round in his upper arm that shattered his elbow and all the bone in the surrounding area completely. After taking the hit and as the enemy opened fire on the rest of the squad he turned to warn them and covered several
of his squad members and fought there way back to the Main unit.

That was the day my brother’s life changed. It has been 4 years since that day and he still does not have the use of the arm — all he can do is hold something small in the hand part. He is still
fighting infection in the arm and according to the doctors will have to take antibiotics the rest of his life and faces further surgeries. 

Even after all that he’s been through, he does not complain or feel sorry for himself and continues to go out of his way to help whoever is in need — whether it is financially, emotionally or even just listening and being that ear a friend truly needs. Don is currently going to school aiming to get a degree and possibly one day start a business of his own.

He also is working on running the marathon, training daily and doing all the things that we sometimes take for granted. He continues to inspire and I always tell him how proud I am of him and that he was a better soldier than I ever was or could’ve been. 

He is my hero and my nomination for Above & Beyond Award...not to bad for a kid from Waianae!