SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- A Santa Maria war hero
comes home for Thanksgiving for the first time since fighting in Afghanistan.
Staff Sergeant Dominic
Annecchini put himself in the line of fire to save his men earning him some of the military's top
medals.
American flags waving, cheering family and friends
and a motorcade of veteran showed their appreciation for Staff Sergeant
Annecchini whose bravery left him with life altering injuries and earned him
a Silver Star for Valor and a Purple
Heart.
Annecchini worked as a
weapons squad leader providing guidance and direction to an Afghan
squad.
During a raid against enemy fighters, Annecchini risked his own life
to save that of a fellow Afghan soldier.
"There was a barricaded shooter
and he shot the guy in front of me and I had to call up that we had a wounded
and had a barricaded shooter and last thing I remember I pulling security at the
door," says Annecchini. "The next thing I
remember is waking up in Germany."
During the fight and while
trying to save that soldier, Annecchini was shot in the head. His actions helped
kill at least five enemy fighters and save the lives of two of his teammates.
Annecchini must now wear a
protective helmet for his head injury. He says now that he's back home he looks forward to eating at the Far
Western with his family, going to his class reunion and having a good
Thanksgiving.
