SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. — The last time they were together, it was in the wreckage of a roadside bombing in Afghanistan.
Sgt. Edward Matayka, shown seated at left, a 33-year-old Vermont National Guard medic, was wounded July 2 about 20 miles from Bagram Air Base. Spec. David Schwerer, far left, was among those who gave him first aid, applying tourniquets that saved his life but couldn’t save his legs.
On Saturday, Matayka got to say thank you, welcoming Schwerer home from a year-long deployment at a ceremony for returning troops.
“This was one of the first things he requested coming out of unconsciousness, to greet the man who saved his life,” said Laurie Ingalls, his mother-in- law. “He wanted to greet him so badly.”
Before he greeted his own mother, Schwerer went straight to Matayka when he walked into the hangar with the other soldiers, giving him a big hug. “It feels great,” said Schwerer, 23. “I’m so glad to see him.”
