Southern Nevadan believes land mine caused injuries

Thursday, July 10, 2003 | 11:04 a.m.

A Southern Nevada soldier, wounded in Baghdad on June 27, says he still has no idea what hit him, although he believes it was a land mine and not an ambush as previous reports indicate.

Spc. Brian Robertson of Henderson, attached to the 2122nd Holding Detail at Fort Lewis, Wash., is out of the hospital and undergoing physical therapy, the Nevada Army National Guard said.

Robertson, while serving as a member of the 72nd Military Police Company was in a 2 1/2-ton truck headed from base camp to the northeast section of Baghdad -- where soldiers can use phones to call home -- when he was wounded.

"I was just riding along, pulling security and the next thing I know I wake up on a gurney," Robertson said through Guard spokesman Staff Sgt. Erick Studenicka.

Robertson said he believes the truck he was on in the two-truck convoy was destroyed by a land mine, Studenicka said. Initial reports were that the unit was ambushed and that the truck was destroyed by some form of artillery.

Studenicka said Robertson's injuries all were sustained when he was thrown from the truck and were not from shrapnel.

The injuries to Robertson's left side were a broken elbow, wrist and finger, and a damaged ear drum, Studenicka said. Robertson underwent surgery to put a pin in his arm.

Several other Nevada Guard members were injured in the incident, but were treated at the scene. Robertson was taken to a German hospital and later to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.