Currently Browsing: Press Releases
Father’s influence helps Iron Brigade Soldier
FOB Hammer, Iraq, Saturday, 21 June 2008
Captain Shawn Kapoor, 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment battalion surgeon, may tell you he joined the military because he was interested in the medical field. But in actuality, his decision to join the Army is much more personal.
“My father and mother immigrated to the United States from Afghanistan in the early 70’s,” said Kapoor, of Crafton, Md. “The U.S. provided my dad with a better life for our family, so he’s a huge supporter of the country and the Army. Me joining the Army allowed him to give back to his country somewhat.”
Civil war erupted in Afghanistan in the 1970’s. In the mostly Islamic nation, Shawn’s father, Doulet Kapoor, was growing tired of the persecutions he and his wife endured on a daily basis for being Hindu.
“My father wanted a better life for himself and his family,” Kapoor said. “He knew he had to get out if he wanted opportunity.”
He and his wife packed up their belongings and left. The next few years found them bouncing from country to country in search of a better way of life. Eventually, Shawn’s parents found a home in the United States.
They settled in Maryland and Doulet took on many jobs to support his family. He worked as a dishwasher and a cab driver, until he discovered his niche in the business world. Kapoor was young at that time, but his father’s patriotism was not lost on him.
Kapoor studied medicine at the University of Maryland and joined the Army in 2000. He felt his decision would make his father proud.
Kapoor then spent seven years as an inactive Soldier while he attended medical school and completed his internship and residency.
Soon after returning to active duty in 2007, Kapoor received orders to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
While he was eager to start his assignment, he had some jitters about deploying for the first time.
“I was a little anxious about deploying,” said Kapoor. “But my dad was behind me all the way. He’s a very proud American, and I knew how proud he was of me.”
Kapoor’s work helping Iron Brigade Soldiers keeps him busy. He sees Soldiers at both Combat Outpost Salie and the FOB Hammer Troop Medical Clinic. He is also part of a cooperative medical operation with Iraqi’s to tend to the sick and needy in the Narhwan area of Iraq.
“We military doctors have a saying that says ‘Conserve fighting strength’,” said Kapoor. “I try and live by that saying. That way I’m doing my part to help our Soldiers complete their mission.”
