Former P.O.W. Edgar Hernandez

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KFOX Exclusive - Former P.O.W. Edgar Hernandez


By Steve Roldan, KFOX News at Nine Reporter

We sat down with former prisoner of war Edgar Hernandez last Saturday at Fort Bliss, but because there were some final questions about Specialist Hernandez getting clearance from Washington, the military held our videotape until Monday. Specialist Hernandez wasn't allowed to answer all of our questions, but he was able to answer many of them.



"My platoon is a supply unit, and we had trucks that carry equipment and the others had wreckers," says Hernandez, a member of Ft. Bliss' 507th Maintenance Company. When the ambush stared, Hernandez found himself fighting near Sergeant James Riley, Specialists Joseph Hudson and Shoshana Johnson and PFC Patrick Riley. Hernandez, Hudson and Johnson had all been shot. "The scariest thing was if I was going to get out alive or if I was going to die," Hernandez told KFOX. "That was the scariest thing."
With weapons jamming and facing overwhelming odds, the five Fort Bliss soldiers surrendered, then the four men were beaten by their Iraqi captors. Just a few hours later Hernandez appeared on the Iraqi videotape somewhat dazed, and with bruises and blood on his face. One interrogator actually had to help him into a sitting position.

Because the ambush is still under investigation, military censors wouldn't allow Specialist Hernandez to talk about specific events during his captivity, but he does credit Chief Warrant Officer David Williams with helping all of the P.O.W.s get through the ordeal. He also remembers the instant that it all ended three weeks after his capture, when U.S. Marines came to his rescue.

"It was so exciting to see the Marines when they rescued us." And when did he finally feel safe? "I felt safe when we landed in Kuwait, when I got out of the Iraq, that's when I felt safe," Hernandez told KFOX.

Hernandez says it was great to be rescued, but even better to be back home on American soil.

He says it was a long flight from Germany here to El Paso with the other former P.O.W.'s, and that he was counting down the hours until their arrival. "When they told us it was only three hours to get there, I started getting really nervous and excited and I couldn't wait," he said.

When they arrived in El Paso, Hernandez and his fellow POW's saw up to two thousand people had gathered at Biggs Army Airfield just to cheer for them. "I was excited after I got off the plane when I saw all the people. I mean it was so exciting, and at the same time I couldn't believe it."

A soft-spoken Specialist Hernandez says he'll never forget the ordeal, and most importantly his new found friends and fellow former P.O.W.'s.

"We'll keep in touch, and we'll always be friends, and I love them as very good friends," he said.

And what about America viewing himself and the former POW's as heroes? "I think its cool to call me a hero but I just think about what I did," says Hernandez, somewhat embarassed by the hero reference. "I was captured and I mean, I didn't do anything to deserve this, (being a hero)" he said.

Hernandez says he plans to enjoy his 30-day convalescent leave from the Army, and he also says he plans to use the time to thank all those who never forgot about him.

"I thank them because they prayed for me and for all of us, and that I'd tell them I'm very thankful for what they did."

Hernandez did have a lot more to say in his interview. Tune in Thursday night for our KFOX special assignment on Specialist Hernandez. We'll talk more about his injuries, how his fellow P.O.W.'s rallied together during the crisis, and what his plans are for the future.

Copyright 2003 by KFOXTV.com.



Sempers,

Roger