“Unconscious” Soldier Gives Surprise Salute After Receiving The Purple Heart

When Army Sgt. Josh Hargis was injured during a combat mission in Afghanistan, it landed him in a hospital bed. He was one of 14 troops that were injured during that mission.

The 24-year-old Ranger surprised everyone, however, when he gave what is now known as the “salute seen around the world.”

Photo: YouTube/NBC News

It happened when he saluted from his hospital bed and his wife, Taylor, captured a picture and shared it. Unfortunately, Hargis lost both of his legs in the incident but he was awarded the Purple Heart and a little bit of Internet fame in the process.

When you receive a Purple Heart, you are supposed to salute according to military protocol. When Josh received the Purple Heart, everyone assumed that he wouldn’t be able to do it because they thought he was sedated and unconscious.

Photo: YouTube/NBC News

There were some 50 people in the room as he received his honor, including doctors, nurses, and other rangers. When the Purple Heart was awarded to him, he lifted his arm, despite the tubes and wrappings, and saluted.

After being posted online, the picture went viral. According to WTKR News, Taylor, his wife wrote: “Despite his wounds, wrappings, tubes, and pain, Josh fought the doctor who was trying to restrain his right arm and rendered the most beautiful salute any person in that room had ever seen.”

Photo: YouTube/NBC News

Josh certainly lives up to his reputation as a Ranger and he doesn’t know the meaning of the word quit. Five months later, he showed that same spirit again when he entered the Warrior Walk and used a hand cycle to finish the race along with them. The final steps were taken using prosthetic legs.

Since that time, Josh and Taylor have welcomed a child into the world and the future is looking bright. Check out the video below:

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