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BLIND VETERAN - Corporal Simon Brown lost his sight while stationed in Basra, Iraq on the 6th December 2006. 2 months into a 6 month tour. A commander of the recovery vehicle, from the Fitter section infantry Company. His job was to support infantry during an operation. After securing a building where they arrested a bomb maker, they were attacked and a firefight ensued. He was told that the commanders vehicle was unable to move. Simon jumped out of his vehicle and assessed the situation. He started to hear the Hiss and Whip of bullets and had to hitch the vehicle and tow them out of the situation. In 5 mins he was ready to get the vehicle hooked and started to drive to safety unfortunately his driver could not see the road because of the dust generated from the other armoured vehicles and he didnât want to get stuck in a ditch. So Simon lifted his head out of the cupola to see if he could guide him and just as he was ducking back down a bullet entered his left cheek and knocked him down into the vehicle. His cheekbone disintegrated, pallets collapsed, jaw broke in 4 places and lost his sight completely in one eye and has only 20% vision in the other. He had to hold his pallet up to continue to breath and hang on with the other arm until they got back to base. When he finally emerged from the armoured vehicle a cheer erupted as all thought he was dead. Pictures by Richard Cannon on 17th September 2022