Brendan Maher

English III
A Profound Interface with an American Hero: Rick Yarosh.
I sat directly across from the man, Rick Yarosh, a coffee table, and his loyal black
retriever, at his feet separated us. I had done my research, I knew what to expect
when meeting him, I knew that on September 1 st 2006 Rick Yarosh manned the
turret of a Bradley fighting vehicle, his patrol of Calvary scouts in the United States
Army was sent on a patrol just outside Abu Ghraib, Iraq. His Bradley fighting vehicle
passed over an IED or an Improvised Explosive Device. The resulting explosion
ruptured the fuel cell of the vehicle filling the cabin of the vehicle with ignited diesel
fuel engulfing him and changing his life forever. He wore a light pink button dress
shirt a winged heart crest decorated his chest, Sweethearts & Heroes it read in
black. Dark gray pants and black shoes completed his ensample. His face was
round, a soft pinkish red much like sunburn. His nose was retracted, mostly gone,
the sides of his head was smooth on each side, he had been left without ears. The
left side of his head maintained a crop of light hair, the right was smooth and soft.
His hands where very damaged he possessed only a few fingers on either. I
contemplated before-hand how I should formally greet him, would a hand shake be
possible? Would he be upset or simply be more than capable? The moment came, I
was advancing toward him a great pressure and worry built within me, at its apex,
my panic was relieved, he raised his arm and offered a most fraternal fist bump.
Ricks smile was infectious and inviting, he did a lot of smiling, and even more
laughing. I contemplated my interaction with him later on and I became curious,
how was it, despite an almost total absence of facial indicators of emotion, such as
eyebrows to manipulate, cheeks to flex and alter, and no forehead to furrow, how
was he so able to express his friendliness, his happiness, his sarcasm, his humor? I
was never really able to answer this question but it is undeniable to see the warm
lively glow, the spry and profound aurora spilling from, radiating from, the incredible
man, the life changing and lifesaving American Hero; Rick Yarosh.