AIR FORCE DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON –
On a bright, sunny, first day of spring, Tech. Sgt. Christopher Frost raised his right hand and re-enlisted at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. The sergeant knew full well the sacrifice he was committing to -- he has already given his right leg in the line of duty.
In Iraq, on another beautiful, sunny day in May 2008, Sergeant Frost, now a 316th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight craftsman and NCO in charge, was planning to do his laundry when he got a call about an improvised explosive devise detonation with casualties.
"I was about six months into my one-year tour when I got blown up," Sergeant Frost said. "I was working as a weapons intelligence team leader with the Army in the 101st Airborne. Our job was going in after the IED hit and collect evidence to find out what did it, who did it, and basically uncover what happened. We were responding to a call and were 150 meters away from the site when we found the IED the hard way - it blew up on us."
With his previous training as a paramedic prior to entering the Air Force, he knew the extent of his injuries as soon as it happened. Sergeant Frost credits the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle he was in for saving his life. Not everyone was as fortunate.
"Four of us were seriously wounded and one of us ended up passing away," he said.
Within 20 minutes of the incident, he was being treated at a nearby military facility.
"That's where they told me my right leg had to come off. It was pretty well damaged," he said. In addition to the loss of his right leg, Sergeant Frost had a plate put in below his right eye and other injuries. He said he stopped counting how many surgeries he has had after around 40.
Sergeant Frost arrived at Andrews May 23, 2008, and has been at Walter Reed Amy Medical Center outpatient clinic since the end of June. He said his care there has been "top-notch," but his journey to re-enlistment hasn't been easy.
"I'm re-enlisting in the Air Force and it's a big deal for me," he said. "To think, just 10 months ago, I was injured, showing up on a [medical evacuation] plane here with one leg, and now I'm choosing to continue to serve my country. It has been quite the journey."
Sergeant Frost first enlisted in 1996.
"I joined the Air Force to travel around, see the world," he said. "I was going to school and just wanted to change up my life." He chose the EOD field to be a part of that change. He has gotten to see the world through a career that has taken him from Hill AFB, Utah, to Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, an assignment in Lithuania, and to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England.
In spite of the challenges Sergeant Frost has faced in his 10-month ordeal, he is continuing to embrace the Air Force, as evidenced by his decision to reenlist.
His colleagues are inspired by his determination to remain a valuable part of the Air Force family.
"In spite of everything, Sergeant Frost has kept such an upbeat and positive attitude," said Capt. Nicole Dusang, 316th CES EOD flight commander. "The Air Force takes care of our wounded warriors and you can see this in Sergeant Frost's situation. I admire his strength and selflessness, especially as it relates to how he thinks of those who will come after him. His reenlistment is indicative of Sergeant Frost's support of the Air Force and its mission, and the Air Force's support of him. I'm really proud of him and I think he's done a great thing for the service."
The sergeant deflects such high praise with professional humility and insists he's not a hero. His fellow EOD technician voiced it for him.
"He's just doing what any other tech would do, and it's what we've trained to do," said Staff Sgt. Ethan Moritz. "It's kind of bred into us, 'Don't stop. Don't quit.' We just don't quit. We just don't quit."