Soldier who loses hand has no regrets

Travis Barton has no regrets about the Iraq War - or losing his hand because of it.

"I'd do it again in a heartbeat," said the soldier, who lost all but one of his fingers when an Iraqi rocket-propelled grenade slammed into his U.S. Army Humvee May 15.

"I knew the consequences even more when I re-enlisted (after serving his first tour in Korea)," Barton said. "It's what I signed up to do."

Barton, 27, will return to Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Friday to have the rest of the hand removed later this month so he can get a prosthesis.

"They gave me a choice," Barton said. "The hand is dead and all the fingers are off except one, and it has to come off because it's infected.

"It was an easy decision to make. I'll be more functional with the hook," Barton said. He is in no hurry to decide what he will do when he gets out of the service and figures he has time to decide during the 18 months allotted him to recover from the surgery.

One thing Barton knows for sure - Nevada County has been incredible for the Bear River High School graduate and his family.

A recent welcome home dinner was held in his honor by the Lions clubs of Nevada City and Penn Valley, with assists from Grass Valley's American Legion Post and Friends of Nevada County Military.

"It's amazing what this community does," said Fred Buhler of Friends. "It was a grand evening."

"I would like to thank all the groups that have helped me in Nevada County," Barton said. "It's been unbelievable."

Through the Friends of Nevada County Military, Barton received many letters and care packages after his injury. "And they really helped my mother out; they were a real support system for her," Barton said.

Local members of the Soldiers Angels, a national military support group, paid for his flight home to spend the last few weeks with his family. They also paid for his mother's flight to Washington, D.C., to see him after he was injured.

On a more functional level, the men at Sports & Swap in Grass Valley rigged up a gun so that Barton could continue his beloved target shooting. After surviving Iraq, he doesn't think he will ever hunt again, but he will continue recreational shooting.

"It's been such a joy to have him home," said his mother, Linda Barton. "He's come a long way. He's more relaxed now."

She also said the response from the community "was huge. It's just great that they honored him. He said he didn't want to be a hero, but I told him he's the face of everyone's son."

All of the attention "has been a little overwhelming" for the low-key Travis, who doesn't revel in publicity. "But it makes me proud of where I'm from."

Although he paid a high price, Travis still doesn't worry about the political side of Iraq.

"I don't get involved in politics," Barton said. "Once you're there, you have a job to do, and you go where the commander in chief tells you to go.

"If you think it's wrong, don't enlist," Barton said. "It's a 100 percent volunteer Army. There's no draft."

ooo

To contact senior staff writer Dave Moller, e-mail davem@theunion.com or call 477-4237.