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Seasoned Vet
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March 05, 2004
Sheriff’s deputy back from Iraq, but missing hand, voice box Associated Press
SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Michigan National Guard Sgt. James McKelvey is back from Iraq, with a missing right hand, destroyed voice box and other severe injuries sustained when a bomb that he was disarming exploded.
The 32-year-old resident of Macomb County’s Shelby Township worked as a sheriff’s deputy in neighboring Oakland County before his call-up for duty in the Middle East. The suburban Detroit man served in the 745th Explosive Ordnance Detachment based out of Grayling.
McKelvey had been due home in July. Instead, he returned to the United States on Feb. 22, 13 days after the disabling explosion. The blast shattered his face and voice box, severely burned and damaged both hands, badly bruised his chest and damaged his lungs. Before he reached the United States, his heart had stopped at least four times in the days following the explosion. After treatment at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, McKelvey was taken to Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Brother-in-law Jim Vacca said McKelvey’s inner strength and the protective bomb suit he wore as he lay on the ground and worked on the homemade bomb are what saved him. “Without these wonderful doctors and nurses, a lot of help from God and all of the people rooting for him around the world, he would not be making this flight tomorrow,” Vacca wrote on a Web site created by the family. He added, “Plus, Jimmy being a stud didn’t hurt, either.” On Feb. 24, McKelvey was able to open his right eye for the first time and move his legs. Two days later, he was taken off the ventilator and was able to breathe on his own, and two days after that, he could see again with his left eye, according to the Detroit Free Press. Despite the severe injuries, family members say they are thrilled with his progress. “He’s really coming along. They didn’t know if he was going to live,” said sister-in-law Glennis Vacca. “We really have been so blessed.” Now, McKelvey’s friends, family and colleagues at the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department want to return some of those blessings. “It’s a very long road ahead,” Sheriff Michael Bouchard told The Daily Oakland Press. Several fundraisers have been planned to defray expenses for Ruth McKelvey, who has taken a leave of absence from her job as a nurse at St. Joseph’s Mercy of Macomb to tend to him. Oakland County sponsored a special Casual Day fund for McKelvey on Thursday so employees could donate at least $5 for the pleasure of dressing down for the day. Farmington Hills police Chief William Dwyer drove to Pontiac on Thursday to donate a $5,000 check from his department’s benevolent association to the McKelvey family. “This is an individual who didn’t ask for support or anything special,” Bouchard said. “But we want to support them. It doesn’t matter if you’ve worked here for six months or 10 years, you’re part of our family.”
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Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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------------------------------------------------------------ Out of every 100 men, ten shouldn't even be there, Eighty are just targets, Nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back." - Hericletus, circa 500 BC ----------------------------------------------------------- 
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Seasoned Vet
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we don't hear enough of the real Hero's of this war only the bad guys seem to stand out from the media.
------------------------------------------------------------ Out of every 100 men, ten shouldn't even be there, Eighty are just targets, Nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back." - Hericletus, circa 500 BC -----------------------------------------------------------
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Seasoned Vet
 
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| Why are sending people into harm's way to 'difuse' these things? Can't we detonate or destroy them from a distance with a .50 cal rifle or a LAW rocket?
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Seasoned Vet
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I had a couple friends that used to be EOD and just makes me wonder if they are affored the same protective gear as they're civilian counterparts?Unfortunately it's a risky MOS.aLWAYS A SHAME when this sort of news rears its ugly head
sticky307
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Resident Lurker
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Jim is doing much better. He's breathing on his own for about 14-16 hours a day. His voicebox was NOT shattered. He has a trach tube in to help him breath disabling him from speaking. He has a temp. voicebox to help him talk when he has the strength. He is a great man. He was injured while in the prone position in his bomb suit taking pictures of this kind of IED. It was a new kind of IED unfamiliar to our EOD guys. They thought they blew it up, they actually did. However, it was unfamiliar to our guys, so they wanted pics, and as much intel on this kind of IED to share with all other EOD Units. This particualr kind of IED had a secondary device riged. It's rigged to explode, then explode again after a few minutes. Jim's wife is with him now. I personally don't really know him well. I've passed him in the halls of the jail and while working OT on his shift. Non the less, he's a great man who was trying to prevent injury and death to others as he was himself injured. I have donated money and am going to donate a couple of OT shifts to his wife to help defray costs of travel. She had to take a leave of absence from work. Anyone who wants to make a donation, PM me and I'll get you the info. I am hopefully going to get down to DC this summer and I'll pop in and visit him. I'll keep yall advised of his situation.
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin, 1759 "Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,
Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.
One died for your soul; the other for your freedom."
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OIF Veteran
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I totally agree Delta. I've seen the EOD guys working here, they are pretty hooah. I just don't think we should put them at risk to defuse IEDs. Those things are booby trapped to begin with. That deputy is a hero.
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Seasoned Vet
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Mitch, Thanks for the G2. Jim and his family are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope he fully recovers soon.
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Seasoned Vet
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| Hey Rey, it's great to hear from you!!! I'm glad you have access to the internet. Are they keeping you busy over there?
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