My Name is Winlom: Iraqi War Veteran Battles Every Day for Independence

Pictures tell a story of the before and after in the life of an Iraqi War veteran, who is continuing to deal with his injuries at Muskego's

"The first picture is very powerful one since it is Winlom, an Iraq Veteran who was shot in head in the Iraq War praying at the VA cemetery in Milwaukee," said Lisa Alberte, who owns and runs the rehab facility on five acres. "His prayer is for those that lost their lives and he is thanking God he is alive and is not one of those that perished despite being shot in head."

Alberte responded to Muskego Patch's call for veterans stories in the week leading into Memorial Day, in hopes we would consider featuring him again "to bring his spirits up and feel like he is not forgotten." 

According to Alberte, the bullet still present in his brain and Woods has lived through 11 surgeries and eight infections. Reconstructive surgies involved the placement of cadaver bone in his skull and a platinum weight in his eyelid and vena cava filter in his body. 

"He lives a compromised life but is blessed everyday he wakes up and is alive," Alberte said.  

Another picture depicts Winlom driving Army trucks in the Iraq War.  He was there from 2003 to 2006 until he got shot. 

"The bullet was from sniper fire that went right under the helmet through his right ear, ricocheted into the left side of the skull and lodged in the middle of his brain. He was not expected to live when he was flown over on life support to the US," Alberte explained.

Prior to going to Iraq War, Woods spent 11 years in the National Guard and Army and was a correctional officer.  

The third picture is Woods posing in his Army uniform with an American flag his buddies from the Iraq War all signed for him.  Although he was shot in July 2006, his buddies from the Iraq War never knew if he lived or died. 

Alberte was awarded as Nurse of the Year in 2008 and a picture of her with Woods that was publicized brought about a reunion and seven comrades who served in the Iraq War with Winlom came from all over the US to be in the Muskego Parade with him in August of 2008, according to Alberte.  

The final picture is , 'Scuba' Whitted at Acres of Hope and Aspirations last fall.  Whitted also suffered a brain injury in 2009 from an improvised explosive device (IED) during his second deployment to the Iraq War as part of the US Army.  The reunion in 2011 was the first time the men had seen each other in five years since Woods was shot. 

Whitted continues to recover at the Wounded Warriors Barex in Fort Knox, Kentucky from his brain injury.  The picture also features Scuba's son who was named after Winlom and one of the Creatures of Rehab, a pot bellied pig named Scuba after this soldier and Winlom's buddy.

"These men both could have perished by serving our country in the Iraq War but thankfully did not. They first bonded by serving together and now have a strong bond by a sustaining brain injuries by standing up for this country.  They truly are heroes!!" said Alberte.