He’s ‘tough as nails’
Published: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 4:19 p.m.
Ten days.
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Marine Cpl. Steven Kiernan, 21, of Petaluma lost both legs after he was wounded in an explosion in Fallujah, Iraq. He vowed not to book his flight home earlier this month until he could walk.
JOHN BURGESS / The Press DemocratThat’s what Marine Cpl. Steven Kiernan had to work with on his first trip home from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He had just 10 days to convince family, friends and the community that everything would be OK.
“My parents said, ‘People will want to see you.’ I said, ‘All right, whatever,’ ” said Kiernan.
He’s an old-fashioned, “yep,” “nope,” kind of guy. Not stoic exactly — it just seems sentences of more than four or five words aren’t really necessary.
A Marine since 2005, Kiernan was just weeks into his first tour of duty in Iraq when he was severely injured March 11. An explosion in Fallujah cost him his legs.
In Sonoma County, word of his injuries inspired concern in the form of non-stop cards and letters and visitors flying to the Washington, D.C., hospital. Among them was fellow Petaluma High graduate (Class of 1957) Richard “Rich” Hearney, a retired, four-star Marine general from Ukiah.
“Steve’s a special young Marine. I am inspired by his positive attitude and refusal to feel sorry for himself. Plus, he’s tough as nails,” said Hearney who watched Kiernan receive the Purple Heart on May 15.
That day, the effort to dress and sit in a wheelchair for the ceremony had Kiernan white-lipped, according to his mother, Kim Petersen.
Hearney was also present when Kiernan first walked on prosthetics on June 19, much sooner than his therapists expected.
“Steven plans to be running on his new legs before he leaves Walter Reed. I am convinced he will do that,” said Hearney.
As part of his rehabilitation, Kiernan has signed up for many unusual and challenging outings. He plays wheelchair basketball weekly and has gone to a Tim McGraw concert, played golf, ridden horses, camped, fished and white-water rafted in Colorado and taken scuba lessons for his recent certification in Puerto Rico.
Kiernan vowed not to book his flights for his first trip home since the injury until he could walk the short blocks of Petaluma like he did as a kid.
Months of grueling rehabilitation allowed him to arrive Sept. 10 walking on gleaming prosthetic legs like a man on stilts — striding on flat surfaces, wobbling a bit on downward slopes — but making it with only the help of a single cane.
“A month from now I won’t need that anymore,” he predicted.
To say that people wanted to express their appreciation hardly describes the nearly continual efforts of social and civic groups that hosted gatherings in his honor. Even grocery shopping included heartfelt conversations.
“We were in Costco and several people came up to shake his hand and thank him. We’re used to that on the East Coast where there are many veterans, but here? It was really something,” said Kim Petersen.
Weeks before Kiernan arrived, a crew of building professionals under the direction of Jim Murphy and Associates in Santa Rosa poured a cement front door ramp, widened doorways and refitted a bathroom for Kiernan at his father’s home. All supplies and services were donated.
“Every person involved thanked me for the opportunity. They were just thrilled to be able to help,” said Jim Murphy.
Kiernan’s second day home included a Lombardi’s barbecue for 150 in the parking lot at Camelbak, the Petaluma company that makes hydration systems for the military and athletes. In the early days of Kiernan’s recovery, Scott Wing, who later emceed the barbecue, flew to Walter Reed. With help from colleagues Martina Hutchinson and Betsy Leggat, he delivered gifts and goods for Kiernan.
The sunny Petaluma gathering included many members of local police forces and fire departments plus six members of the Sonoma County chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, which had hosted a summer fund-raiser for Kiernan.
“Every conflict is different, but the results for us are all the same. We think . . . what happens to us is unique, but it is the same,” said Vietnam veteran John Logan. “What we do is focus on giving them all the help we can.”
Amid lunch and dinner dates and time to “veg” and watch football, later in the week Kiernan and his mom drove up to Gen. Hearney’s place to shoot trap along with Dan and Marcus Benedetti from Clover Stornetta in Petaluma. By the time they drove home, Kiernan admitted he was exhausted from all the comings and goings.
His visit also included a trip to Canine Companions for Independence in Santa Rosa. Kiernan may apply for a service dog in the future.
“I like the program. A few of the guys at Reed have service dogs, and they’re very helpful. They can get your wheelchair when you wake up; pick up your cane if you drop it . . . things like that,” he said.
He plans to attend college and find a way to create a career that continues his service to his country. With many internships available for veterans, he is in the process of gathering information on possible career paths.
“I will most likely live in Virginia and go to a four-year college. I’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said adding that he skipped taking the SAT to focus on becoming a Marine.
At that time, he was 5 feet 8 inches tall. With his prosthetic limbs, he now stands 5 feet 10 inches.
“I always wanted to be taller. Now I am.”
Kiernan finished his high school course work early so he could join the Marines and get through boot camp in time to return to Petaluma for graduation.
He then made headlines for asking to wear his dress uniform instead of a cap and gown. Community debate was diffused with the compromise of wearing his uniform under his purple graduation gown.
“Since being a Marine, it has given me a new outlook on everything. In high school, I was lazy. Now I know working hard, doing your best is worth the effort,” said the former B-plus student.
When Kiernan was growing up, he was part of a pack of neighborhood kids who ran through back yards overlooking pastures and vineyards. He usually made the other kids play war. During his visit home, he made time to see his neighborhood pals.
The teen Marine who left Petaluma has come back with a world of insight and a few tattoos, including a large pair of six-shooters and the motto “Stick to your guns” across his chest.
As far as he’s concerned, Petaluma is just as it always was, something he finds comforting.
“The most important thing to me was to let my family and friends see me up and moving,” he said. “I wanted to let everyone know that I’m doing fine. No one needs to worry about me.”
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