Sergeant First Class John Masson lost both legs and his left hand and plans to return to active duty to train Special Forces medics.
Warrant Officer I Timmothy Smario was temporarily blinded and is back on light duty.
Masson, left, and Smario
Both were injured from a roadside bomb blast in Afghanistan about three weeks ago and both are based out of the Special Forces National Guard Armory in Roanoke Rapids.
On December 3, AMVETS Post 101 is having a community wide barbecue sandwich bag lunch sale to raise funds for the soldiers and their families. The event begins at 11 a.m. at the armory, which is located on Virginia Avenue.
“They’re all American guys,” Chief Warrant Officer IV Jim Herring said following an organizational meeting today. “They want to serve their country and don’t regret anything. They would do it all over again.”
Herring said the armory was surprised by the event. “Everybody in our armory is overwhelmed by the support from our community. This really was unexpected. We can’t express our gratitude.”
When Herring talked to Masson, who remains hospitalized, the sergeant didn’t talk about himself. He wanted to find out what Roanoke Rapids police officer John Taylor’s family needed after the officer was shot Wednesday. “He wants to help out officer Taylor’s family any way he can. He wants to go back to Fort Bragg and teach Special Forces medics and show them he’s happy to be alive.”
For Jean Reaves, the fundraiser is not about AMVETS. “This is a community effort. We’re hopeful the community will embrace this Guard unit. This unit is ours. This whole unit is hurting and needs to know the community is with them.”
At the meeting today, Herring told organizers Masson has been at Walter Reed since October 23. “He’s in the greatest of spirits.”
Masson is currently being fitted for a prosthetic arm and could be released to his brother for Christmas.
Smario, who was walking behind Masson when the sergeant stepped on the improvised explosive device has regained some vision in his right eye, Herring said. “They’re still working on his left eye. He’s doing light duty in Afghanistan.”
Masson and Smario have children and both live in North Carolina, Masson in Fayetteville and Smario in Knightdale.
For Masson, one of the things funds from the sandwich sale could be used for is buying him a service dog, which are trained by military prisoners for wounded soldiers.
Pat Pulliam, a post member, said the dogs are called living prosthetics.
While the Veterans Administration helps soldiers maintain the animals, it doesn’t pay for the animals, Reaves said. “The major cost is the cost of the animal.”
These dogs take the prosthetics off and help the person into bed by lifting the remaining part of the legs. “They bring you the phone, open refrigerators and take laundry and put it in the washer,” Reaves said.
They take stress from spouses, she said, by letting them be spouses.
One of the things the post needs now is for businesses across the county to organize and sell tickets for the event. “Flambeau, Safelite and Reser’s have already indicated that they feel they can sell between 40 and 50 bags,” Reaves said. “Once we have their numbers down then we will fix those bags for that business ready to be picked up and they can then have them at a designated place at the plant and employees can come pick up their individual order.”
Tickets, which are $5, are available and can be picked up at AMVETS Post 101, 1710 West Tenth Street. The phone number is 252-535-0336 or call Reaves at 252-673-6495. The Post opens about 4 p.m.
