An northwest Iowa native had a close call while on patrol with the Iowa National Guard in Afghanistan. A U.S. Army release says specialist Tom Albers of Alton was on a foot patrol in Afghanistan when the soldiers spotted someone they believe to be an insurgent.
Albers was coming over a hill as he looked for the man and says he heard a shot and then was knocked down and felt like he was hit by a baseball bat. The 20-year-old Albers was evacuated and check out by medics who found him okay except for a small burn across the top of his scalp.
Albers later found a hole in his combat helmet where the bullet went through. He serves with the First Squadron, 113th Cavalry, which will be in Afghanistan for another month or two.
Photo courtesy of Army Public Affairs.