Four more years

Image courtesy: Tech Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo

In December 2005, Tech Sgt. Israel Del Toro Jr. was given a one in five chance to live after being badly burned by an explosion in Afghanistan. His response to the doctors?

“I told them to go to hell.”

Fast forward to February 2010. The Express-News in San Antonio, Texas, reports that Tech Sgt. Del Toro has accomplished something many people thought was impossible. Not only did he survive, he's back in the United States Air Force.

“I've fought for four years, and I did it,” [Del Toro] said. “A lot of people supported me. That helped a lot and kept pushing me forward.”

Though he has less stamina and lost his fingers and the use of his left hand, Del Toro, a master parachutist who also served in Bosnia and Iraq, has a lot to offer young airmen, Air Force officials said.

Joined at the ceremony by his wife, Carmen, and son, Israel III, 7, Del Toro said he'll probably retire in four years, with a total of 17 years of service, short of the 20 required to receive full benefits.

He'll soon begin working as an instructor at Lackland AFB and will have incredible stories to share, [Maj. Gen. Anthony] Przybyslawski said.

“These young airmen are going to have instant credibility,” he said.

Del Toro spent three months in a coma induced for medical reasons after his near-fatal injury in Afghanistan. Amazingly, he was out of the hospital about six months after the attack, and has had to endure more than 100 surgeries. While thrilled to be home with his wife and son, there was one final step Del Toro needed to complete his recovery, as reporter Scott Huddleston explains in the article. He needed to once again recite an oath to his country.

I, Israel Del Toro Jr., do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

Congratulations, Tech Sgt. Del Toro, and thank you for all you are doing for our nation.