A retired army master has died at the age of 46, ten years after he was shot in the head while looking for a missing soldier who had deserted his post in Afghanistan.
Army Master Sergeant Mark Allen, from Loganville, Georgia, was shot by a sniper in 2009 while looking for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl who had walked off his base and was imprisoned by the Taliban for five years.
Sgt. Allen was never the same after returning home, he was confined to a wheelchair, unable to speak and relied on his devoted wife Shannon to get him up and dressed in the morning.
Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl had walked off his base in Afghanistan. He was returned home after being traded for five Taliban prisoners.
Bergdahl later pled guilty and was dishonorably discharged, reduced in rank from sergeant to private and fined $1,000 per month over a 10-month period for deserting his post and endangering the lives of fellow soldiers, including Allen, Fox News reported.
According to CNN, Sgt Allen, along with other soldiers, spent 19 days looking for their comrade and not only Sgt. Allen was injured during the search.
24-hour nursing care
Shannon had testified at Bergdahl’s sentencing telling the court her husband Mark had endured about 20 surgeries and required round-the-clock nursing care after being shot, CNN reports.
“He is present, makes eye contact,” she told the court. “He can laugh, smile, cry. That is the extent of the communication.”
Shannon expressed her disgust at Bergdahl’s actions, according to the post below.
“Meet my husband,” she wrote on Facebook, “injuries directly brought to you by the actions of this traitor.”
https://www.facebook.com/chris.sands.79/posts/766865830010568?__xts__[0]=68.ARBLYFNSZzftxNvDjAeSQARzUw1jW88bENSMY7FZikKA1CNQYoYVHnHVDbhtxf5fWcjBExKdQBLDLebH2e9ypqyL4V8eTPUrxZL2-fHD3DDQDzaOvQU4qUNFtJjBiHzmQ08zEl9YVPzoERmJnZL9xTnSyhwXrLMQk7mR7rWwOab3PEHI_is93PzeFk-BqdjrM9FUC27f3E_jqIRl0qPNZnD4yd7sKL0uz–8hgYsIc7hSo1USZxW-sCidEGzFy-aQ9EP62rEOHixkzsQ452koPceBeglohwuwkcbC5Ak0arOJmwXAnYvDse9ireL6Cvp6gLb9pTrI7KqidhHOlmoB1E&__tn__=-R
An obituary and page where you can leave messages of condolence read that Mark “passed away on Saturday, October 12, 2019 from complications of an injury sustained while serving in Afghanistan in 2009.”
U.S. Veterans’ Network posted a tribute, calling Mark “a true American hero.”
“MSG Mark Allen, a true American hero. Thank you for your service brother. We’ll take it from here,” the network posted on Facebook.
Find out more about this true American hero in the clip below.
[arve url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk_kuCOApyU” /]
Rest in Peace Army Master Sergeant Mark Allen, you fought so bravely to the very end and your loyalty and bravery is commendable.
Please share to send strength and support to his wife and family who stayed true and loyal to the man they loved.
