Wounded Soldier 10-11

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OUR WOUNDED HERO FOR 2011-2012

Steven Michael Eakins was born on March 11, 1983 at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina. His parents are Mark and Kelly Eakins. Steven is a Fourth Generation Eakins to serve his country through Military Service. His wife April is also serving in the Air Force and they have two children, Sienna Marie and Asher Wallace.

Steven enlisted in the U. S. Air Force on December 10, 2003. He did his basic training in San Antonio, Tx. at Lackland Air Force Base. Upon Completion of Basic he was assigned to Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi for Technical School. Once completed he was assigned back to Lackland for his first assignment in June 2004. His second assignment sent him to San Angelo, Texas to Goodfellow Air Force Base where he attended Airman Leadership School. He earned the Joint Service Achievement Medal in 2008 and the Air Force Achievement medal in January 2009. He will be retired from the Military in June 2011.

It was while serving on his first assignment at Lackland that he met and married his wife. This is also where they had their first child. They were both transferred to San Angelo and after being there for about a month they found out they were expecting their second child. It was while they were in San Angelo that Steven suffered his injuries on Tuesday, October 20, 2009, just 17 days before the birth of their son, Asher.

The Squadron Steven was assigned to made it a practice for all to go to the airport to either welcome a fellow airman back from deployment or to send a fellow airman off. The morning of his accident he was with his squadron at the airport to see a fellow airman off on a deployment. He was on his way back to the base, when he came over a hill on a curve and there a back hoe was in his lane. He had no time to react to miss hitting it. The police estimate Steven was traveling at 65 mph and the back hoe was traveling around 12 mph. Steven was fortunate to have other squadron members following the same route and emergency crews were called immediately. This was instrumental in Steven's life being saved.

Steven suffered Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, over 100 facial fractures, broken and dislocated right arm and shoulder and broken right clavicle. Steven's injuries are 100% service connected and in the line of duty. Steven was treated at Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo, Texas and received his line number for being promoted to Staff Sargent on October 30, 2009. He was then sent to San Antonio and after 5 months was sent to James A Hayley Veterans Medical Center in Tampa, Fl., on July 2, 2010 to be treated in the Polytrauma Unit where he could get aggressive therapies in Occupational, Physical, Speech and Recreational. Because he is not making significant progress it is time for him to be transitioned home.

His mom and dad will be taking him home to live with them. They will need to either remodel their home or build a home from scratch to be able to care for Steven. His mom has walked away from her job to be by his side and be his primary caregiver.

Steven is 100% disabled and remains in a minimally conscious state, unable to communicate. He is on a feeding tube to receive his meds and nutrition. He requires 24/7 care. His home will have to have a lift to be able to move him from his bed, oxygen and suctioning equipment.

The VA will offer some hours each week to help with his care but the majority of the time his mom will not have help.

When Steven joined the military he intended to serve as long as he was able. His plan was to retire from the military but not retire for medical reasons.

Steven deserves to have the very best care and the opportunity to have the best recovery. He is an American Hero.