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A profoundly moving photo of a salute by a seriously wounded Army Ranger is warming the hearts of people around the world after being posted on Facebook by his wife, Taylor Hargis.
In the photo her husband, Cpl. Josh Hargis’, is seen saluting his commander who was at the hospital to award the seemingly unconscious soldier a Purple Heart.
The commander forwarded the photo to Taylor along with a letter, writing “grown men began to weep” at the sight – that it was “the single greatest event I have witnessed in my ten years in the Army.”
Taylor included the following information along with the photo on her Facebook timeline:
I received this pictures today along with a letter from the commander of the team Josh was a part of on the night of his injuries. A letter to explain to me what kind of man I have the privilege of being married to. He explained to me what happened and what was going on in the picture.”Josh was seriously wounded as you know and survived for almost two hours after his injury before arriving to the hospital. Josh was immediately pushed through a series of surgeries and emerged hours later into an intensive care unit here at our base in Afghanistan. Despite being in intense pain and mental duress, Josh remained alert and compassionate to the limited Rangers that were allowed to visit him bedside. Prior to Josh being moved to Germany for his eventual flight to America, we conducted a ceremony to award him with the Purple Heart for wounds received in action. A simple ceremony, you can picture a room full of Rangers, leaders, doctors, and nurses surrounding his bedside while the Ranger Regimental Commander pinned the Purple Heart to his blanket. During the presentation the Commander publishes the official orders verbally and leaned over Josh to thank him for his sacrifice. Josh, whom everybody in the room (over 50 people) assumed to be unconscious, began to move his right arm under the blanket in a diligent effort to salute the Commander as is customary during these ceremonies. Despite his wounds, wrappings, tubes, and pain, Josh fought the doctor who was trying to restrain his right arm and rendered the most beautiful salute any person in that room had ever seen. I cannot impart on you the level of emotion that poured through the intensive care unit that day. Grown men began to weep and we were speechless at a gesture that speak volumes about Josh’s courage and character. The picture, which we believe belongs on every news channel and every news paper is attached. I have it hanging above my desk now and will remember it as the single greatest event I have witnessed in my ten years in the Army.”
Taylor also referred people to an article from the Guardian of Valor website, noting that “There are many articles that have false or incorrect information. We want his story shared but only with the correct info.”
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