Navy corpsman Mike Dolnick has seen the results of war, and helped save the lives of many: Americans, United Nations military, Afghan Army soldiers, civilians, and even the enemy--the Taliban.

Local fire paramedic Mike Dolnick has spent a tour of duty with the Navy in Kandahar and another in the Navy’s receiving hospital (Langstuhl) in Germany. An E5 Petty Officer 2nd Class, Dolnick takes pride in his work as a Trauma Team Corpsman because he loves what he does.

Mike Dolnick grew up in Martin County, Florida, enlisted with the U.S. Army in 1983, and remained active from 1984 to 1986. Later he became a part of the National Guard (1986—1987). After 9/11 in 2001 Dolnick reenlisted with the Navy, becoming a Corpsman (2003).

In Germany, his team managed care for U.S. military wounded until they could be returned to the States. Injured soldiers were sent in to the hospital from both Iraq and Afghanistan. Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is the largest American hospital outside the United States.

In 2013, Dolnick was prepared for deployment overseas to Afghanistan. No mental preparation (counseling) for what was to be expected was provided. Kandahar base had regular shootings and shellings; it was infiltrated with the enemy through the Afghan army. As a result, those on base carried a weapon at all times to protect themselves. The enemy’s purpose was to destroy the hospital. If this had been successful, NATO would have been minimalized as a military force.

NATO had four trauma teams at Kandahar. Each team worked 24 hours on and 72 hours off. Each team consisted of one doctor, two nurses and two corpsmen. Dolnick was one of the corpsmen.

Similar to the old television series MASH, a group of the injured would arrive together—three to four amputations at a time, some soldiers with two legs and two arms missing, requiring resuscitations, intubation, catheterizations, whole blood product infusions, etc… Extra trauma teams would need to be spun up. Each team additionally came with its own Afghan interpreter.

The wounded arrived with missing eyes, gunshots, burns, and shrapnel embedded in their bodies. Most spoke English, but some did not, hailing from several different United Nations countries: Romania, Ukraine, Slovakia, Britain, Belgium, Australia, etc..

If a soldier arrived with a pulse, he had a 98% chance of survival before getting into the operating room.

The military, both U.S. and Afghan Army, were issued ballistics eyewear. Few if any Americans received eye injuries because of this gear. Afghans however, found the eyewear unattractive. Those who wore it were made fun of. Dolnick states that he saw many Afghanis lose their sight because of this cultural problem.

Kandahar’s hospital had walking bloodlines--those willing to donate blood as needed.

It also had a blast wall and military police.

The enemy too gets injured. The Taliban were brought in. Under the Geneva Convention, noncombatants had to be given medical help as well. “They would look at me like they wanted to kill me,” Dolnick states, “even though I’m taking care of them.” Medical personnel turned in their weapons at the door prior to coming on duty. No weapon could be within reach of the enemy; even though he was injured, he was still considered dangerous. Sometimes, they came in with bombs strapped on. These enemies were taken behind a blast wall to be searched prior to entering the hospital.

In all Dolnick believes he treated 300 individuals in Afghanistan.

Now home, Dolnick doesn’t sleep well. He believes that returning soldiers need family counseling. The suicide and alcoholism rates are quite high for returning veterans, especially for those with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“Half of substance abuse treatment admissions among veterans aged 21 to 39 involve alcohol as the primary substance of abuse. Men and women in the U.S. military often face challenging experiences during their service, including combat exposure, multiple deployments, physical injury, and psychological trauma. Some turn to substance use as a way to cope with these experiences. Unhealthy substance use behaviors can persist after active duty military service and can lead to the need for substance abuse treatment among veterans.” (U.S. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, 2012)

Suicide rates for veterans remain unchanged. Approximately 22 veterans a day take their own life. (Stars and Stripes, Jan 2014)

Counseling can help.

A key suggestion Dolnick has is this: “When a serviceman is allowed to go home, he is asked only a couple of questions, ‘Do you feel like hurting anyone? What about yourself?’ These men have been away from their families for a long time. They will say anything to go home. It would be much better to have the soldier go home for a week or so and then go in to family counseling locally or bring them back on base for counseling. I myself attended the Wounded Warriors Workshop, courtesy of the Navy.”

Dolnick saves lives. In Florida, he has resuscitated a choking infant one evening at a local Jensen Beach restaurant. In addition, Dolnick serves as a medic at Physicians Immediate Care in Port St. Lucie and as a paramedic at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Dolnick is also a part of the Funeral Honor Guard for veterans in South Florida. He has seen more than 600 burials, complete with taps and the folding of the flag. He believes that what he does there makes a difference during the family’s darkest moments.

Mike Dolnick takes pride in wearing his uniform and considers himself blessed. He loves his work and he loves his country. He truly is a Hometown Hero.

HAVE A HERO TIP? Send your Hometown Hero tip to Kelly Jadon: kfjadon@gmail.com

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The War in Afghanistan began in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington D.C.

Why are we in Afghanistan?

“We’re cleaning up someone else’s mess. The enemy is the Taliban.”

Sergeant Hayley Nine is a 5’8” 22-year-old woman, who has returned home from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. As a gunner for a Mine Resistant Ambush Protection Vehicle (MRAP) scout truck, she wore armor, traveled at the head of convoys in search of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and sat atop the vehicle, alert. Her weapon—a 50 caliber machine gun.

When Hayley Nine was 15, her beloved grandfather died. He had retired from the Army a Lieutenant Colonel. Hayley had been quite close to him, and had also always been drawn to the Army.

At age 17, her parents signed their names, giving Hayley, yet a minor, permission to join the Army—carrying on her grandfather’s legacy. She graduated from Treasure Coast High School, received a softball scholarship to Palm Beach State College and remained a Reserve soldier until being called up to active duty in 2012.

Afghanistan changed Hayley in the way that every soldier who sees active duty in a war zone is changed. “It was a big culture shock,” Hayley states, “and the experience matured me. But I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. It made me realize what really matters—my brothers and sister, my mom and dad, my family. I saw life for the reality it is—and now understand that there are things that matter and things that don’t.”

Before Hayley left for Afghanistan, she had to make decisions about her future, the type which few 20-year-olds pay attention to. The Army requires a checklist to be taken care of prior to deployment: beneficiaries listed on life insurance policies, a will and living will prepared, a signed Do Not Resuscitate order (DNR). Hayley gave her dad power-of-attorney over her financial accounts, which helped sort out a few problems while she was overseas, and Hayley elected her sister to be the person to make health decisions in the event that she could not.

In Afghanistan, Hayley has responsible for arranging for the drop off locations and times of materials the convoy was transporting. “This was a huge responsibility for me,” she adds, “they placed me in charge of millions of dollars’ worth of equipment and humanitarian aid.”

As the convoy rolled through villages, children would run out for candy. At other times rocks were thrown and pop shots were taken toward them.

Hayley traveled with an interpreter who spoke Pashto through a loudspeaker and on the ground, face to face with locals, speaking on behalf of the U.S. soldiers. He kept his face covered so as to be unrecognizable to the public, thus keeping his identity safe. “Interpreters risk their lives and those of their families if they are ever identified by the Taliban for helping the Americans,” Hayley relates.

At one point, Hayley’s truck had stopped, her truck commander and two ANAs (Afghanistan National Army) with AK-47s were on the ground (off the vehicle). A white Toyota with one male driver approached. He was told to stop or he would be shot. The driver kept coming. Hayley had to make a decision what to do. Her commander could be in the line of fire. The ANAs could turn on them. (“They’ve been known to do so.”) No shots had been fired at Hayley’s truck. (U.S. forces cannot shoot unless they are being shot at and a person within view. Muzzle flash is not enough reason. This is called the Rules of Engagement –ROE.)

This was Hayley’s final mission before coming home. A clenching decision, she did not shoot. It was a dry run, she believes—a testing of U.S. forces to see how far they are allowed to go. The driver of the car stopped beside the U.S. Army truck, got out of the Toyota, picked up an AK-47 of his own from the passenger seat and evilly smiled at Hayley.

Hayley has been home in Port St. Lucie for one year and she is about to graduate from the Police Academy at Indian River State College. In her future is a place on the Port St. Lucie Police Department, where she hopes to become a K9 officer. In September, Hayley will return to the military for training as a drill sergeant in Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

One of Hayley’s goals is to “change the face of women in law enforcement, taking full advantage of opportunities such as SWAT and K9.” She believes that veterans with active duty experience, especially after having asserted the Rules of Engagement, are beneficial in civilian security jobs, helping keep the homeland safe.

A Hometown Hero, Hayley Nine is a very focused young woman; Hayley can be found locally in the gym, watching motorcycle racing (She rides a 2009 Kawasaki Ninja ZX10R.), at church or out at the shooting range. Her favorite weapon is an M4 Carbine. One day, she would like to marry and have children.

HAVE A HERO TIP? Hometown Heroes are in every town and city. They are regular people who have made a positive difference in their community, impacting others for the better. Send your Hometown Hero tip to Kelly Jadon kfjadon@gmail.com or find her online at kellyjadon.com.

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