Wounded Cleveland Soldier Speaks Of IED Attack, Recovery

A wounded Oklahoma soldier is back on the home front. Specialist Ashley Jones from Cleveland spent her Christmas in a hospital, one week after an IED blast in Afghanistan injured her badly.

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Specialist Ashley Jones broke her back and pelvis in the attack. Doctors were forced to amputate her right foot just above the ankle. On Monday, Specialist Jones felt well enough to speak with us on the phone from a San Antonio military hospital.

As a combat medic for the 45th Infantry, Specialist Ashley Jones goes inside the war zone, as the first person to treat fallen soldiers.

"I had to Medevac one person. He was outside of the truck when an IED went off," Jones said.

Just a week later, the medic became the patient when an IED hit her convoy.

"I don't remember any of the blast. I woke up when they were cutting my pants off and putting a tourniquet on," Jones said.

A helicopter quickly arrived to fly the 20-year-old to safety, where she was later awarded the Purple Heart.

"The way they talked about it and how much of an honor it is to get one, it was just a really good feeling," Jones said.

Specialist Jones is now recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. She's already had preliminary surgery on her leg.

"It's been pretty painful," Jones said.

But having her family by her side eased the pain. They flew down to Texas just in time for Christmas.

12/24/2011 Related Story: Cleveland Family Reunited With Wounded Combat Medic

"It was good to have them here for Christmas. I hadn't seen them for about six months," Jones said.

Her parents were relieved to see she's already hobbling around on crutches. But Specialist Jones faces several more surgeries and, when she's ready, physical therapy, to adjust to a prosthetic foot.

She hopes she'll get it soon enough to welcome her unit back to Oklahoma.

"I just want to be able to walk in with them when they get back. We're like a family," Jones said. "I want them to know that we're still praying for them and I know they'll make it home safe."

Not too long ago, Specialist Jones won trophies playing basketball and softball for Cleveland High School. She wants to tell her friends there to get ready. Because even with a prosthetic foot, she's ready to play ball when she gets home.