

Friday, February 3, 2012

'Just Follow Me'

Images courtesy: Jarboe family

Soldiers from the Army's 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment had spent several hours securing a perilous southern Afghanistan village on Apr. 10, 2011, when Sgt. Jamie Jarboe relayed an order to leave. The day's mission was accomplished, and it was time to head back to base.

"Just follow me," Sgt. Jarboe said.

The soldier recounted what happened next.

"I turned to my right, and before I put my foot on the ground, I hit the ground like a sack of potatoes," Jarboe told The Unknown Soldiers. "The scariest part was when I realized what happened."

An enemy sniper had shot Jamie just as he was leading the Pale Riders, as his unit is known, out of the area.

"The blood was soaking my clothes, and at this point I was like, 'Holy crap, I'm really hurt,'" the 27-year-old warrior said. "I remember looking at my hand, and it wouldn't even move, and that's when I started freaking out."

As he lay in the blood-soaked mud of Afghanistan, unable to take cover as a firefight erupted all around him, Jarboe thought of the woman he had just married on Valentine's Day and the two children at home who needed him. "If I'm going to succumb to these wounds," Jamie thought, "then it'll be on my own terms."

"I'm not dying out here," the Frankfort, Ind., soldier resolved. "I'm going to die someplace like America."

After passing out, Jarboe later woke up at the first of many hospitals he would visit in the United States.

"I made it," he thought. "I'm here."

Despite his iron will, it is often difficult for Jarboe to speak, and it's even harder for him to come to grips with the fact that he's paralyzed from the chest down. But whenever he needed to pause for a quick breather during our phone conversation, Melissa Jarboe, 32, spoke up to convey unconditional, unwavering support for her husband.

"I have an acceptance of a path that we're all chosen for," Melissa said. "We talked about it before he left."

Melissa demonstrates her faith even during the toughest moments, such as the time when one of her daughters asked who shot Jamie.

"I said, 'I don't know, but I want you to pray for him, even if he's the enemy,'" she recalled.

While God is a source of comfort, nothing could have prepared Melissa for seeing her husband in the hospital.

"The first time I got to see Jamie, I literally went into shock," she said. "He was trying to scream, but being hooked up to so many machines, he couldn't talk."

Having already deployed to Iraq, Jamie knew the risks of war. What frustrated him about Afghanistan, however, was rarely being able to see the enemy.

"You're always getting shot at from really close range," he said. "But because of the buildings, trees and farmland, it's hard to tell where it's coming from."

As Jamie lay in a Colorado hospital bed awaiting a transfer back to Maryland, where he would have surgery the next day at Johns Hopkins University, the wounded soldier and his wife repeatedly cited the courage of the children as a constant source of renewable strength.

"Both girls forfeited their Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas and spent (the holidays) in the hospital with us," Melissa said. "Never once have they complained."

Jamie and Melissa never thought their first year of marriage would take place mostly inside hospital rooms. But ever since Sgt. Jarboe bravely told his fellow soldiers to "just follow me," support has poured into their lives via thousands of cards, emails and Facebook messages.

"It's all been very surprising to me," the grateful wounded warrior said in a soft, quiet voice.

Jamie and Melissa both asked several questions about what was going on in my life, as hearing about the day-to-day experiences of others helps them feel connected to the outside world. Someday soon, they hope their lives will regain some sense of normalcy.

"My goal is to be done with the hospitals," Jamie said. "I want to do what a father does and be what a husband's supposed to be."



  1. Tears. This is the first time I have heard it in Jamie's words. He is a wonderful Soldier/Hero, husband and father.
    Jamie, you and yours are in my prayers every day!

    1. Good Job Tom. Once again, you've managed to tell a very important and poignant story about the men and women who fight our wars. Thank you a million times over. I'll share this.

      Btw, I'm trying to reach you. Can you write to me w/ your email addy? Thanks. Contact me through http://WarRetreat.org if you would.

  2. This is the most important blog on the 'net. keep doing what you're doing. We need to read it. We need to know. It has to matter.

  3. God Bless Sgt. Jarboe. I have followed his Journey and it's heart breaking of his passing. Jamie is a true American Hero. May God comfort is amazing wife Melissa and their family. R.I.P. Hero. <3

  4. As he received his highest ranking a soldier can receive in God's army the words encourage soo many. My heart is heavy for all the family and friends of Hero Jarboe as my kids refer to him when we pray at night... RIP sweet Jamie ... and Prayers continue for Melissa his children and his family and fellow soldiers .. thank you all for all you do... xoxo an ex navy wife and now army mom in law in Texas

  5. Losing Sgt Jamie Jarboe today has left another hole in my heart. They were truely an inspiring couple. Hang up your boots, Jamie. Your brothers and sisters have your back.

  6. as a few tears fall from my face for Sgt Jamie Jarboe for him protecting my freedom i am so thankful for him and the other men and woman ,my heart hurts for his family ,i know nothing helps now but i am so so sorry,but GOD has jamie now and he has no more pain THANK YOU SGT. JAMIE

  7. We salute you Jamie, an American Hero and the awesome lady, Melissa who understood the High Calling that you heard. God Bless this Great American Family.
    Sam and Deb Burgess

  8. It always takes me a while to read anything about Jamie because the tears start flowing from the first word I read, Jamie is everyones Son, Hes everyones husband and every childs father.Jamie was a true fighter and a true Hero. We love you Jamie just hearing your name stirs love and respect for our young men and women in the Military everywhere.. God bless your family and what they are going through.

  9. Jamie.
    I prayed for you as you went through your ordeal . Reading you story brought everything full circle .
    Rest in Peace
    John Woolgar