Georgia Magazine

Photo by: William Tullis/Tullis Photography

Lt. Joshua Darnell (ABJ ’04) is recovering at the veteran’s hospital in Augusta from wounds he suffered in a suicide bomber’s attack in Afghanistan in January.

Darnell, who was with the Army’s 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, suffered catastrophic joint damage and nerve damage to his right arm and multiple shrapnel wounds during the attack, which occurred while he was on routine patrol of a market in Hutal, Afghanistan. A suicide bomber with 40-50 pounds of homemade explosives under his robes detonated himself as Darnell and other soldiers passed by.

Doctors initially feared Darnell would lose his arm. However, after 12 surgeries at Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta and seven weeks of occupational therapy at the Charlie Norwood Veterans Administration Medical Center, Darnell has regained some use of his hand and fingers and some sensation.

Darnell received a Purple Heart award from the office of the president of the United States. The Purple Heart is awarded to any member of the armed forces who is wounded or killed while serving in active duty. He is expected to remain hospitalized until early fall. He and his wife Melissa (BSEd ’04) live in Oconee County.

Darnell worked as an assistant editor for Georgia Magazine from July 2004 to February 2006. He enlisted in the military in March 2006 and went to Afghanistan in June 2008.