Street roots., December 24, 2015, Page 10, Image 10

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Page 10
Street Roots • Dec. 24-31, 2015
Specialist Kevin
Pannell learned
the power o f
forgiveness after
losing his lower
legs in a blast in
Iraq. W riting is
one way he heals.
I t ’s also how he
shares his lessons.
Kevin Pannell during a reading a t the American Legion Post 134 on Northeast Alberta Street.
BY SUE ZALOKAR
point: to read, write, reflect and share about
their experiences and impressions of war.
The group was launched after Pannell met
rmy Spc. Kevin Pannell grew up in
Sean Davis, a fellow war veteran, writer and
Dierks, Ark., a town where a lot of
commander of Post 134.
people have never travelled more
than 100 miles from home. They are good “We are trying to bring civilians and vets
together to meet face to face ...to better
people, Pannell said - very strong, with hard
understand the other’s perspective,” Pannell
opinions about things with which they have
said.
no experience.
That’s important because “you can’t
But Pannell always felt he was different,
expect society to totally re-adapt to you
and joining the Army
coming back into it,” Pannell said, “just like
11 was at W alter Reed (B a lle tta i was a way for him to
society can’t expect you to fully immerse
serve his country and
M ilita ry Medical Center) le r a
yourself.”
have experiences
year and a h a ll a lte r sny injury»
The writer’s group and the book,
outside of his small
published by Blue Skirt Productions, was
I was sp@en4ei back in to
community.
In that way, Pannell funded by a grant from Oregon Humanities.
society very, very gradually^"
For Pannell, the writers’ group is
is
much
like many of
Sl»€. K EViN PAN NELL
therapeutic. He has been writing most of his
the other veterans
life, and when he was able to put pen to
who left home to
serve overseas. And like them, he returned a paper again after his injury, he wrotè to deal
with his emotions.
casually of war.
“There are only little pieces of me that
He lost his lower legs in a grenade blast in
struggle with adapting,” Pannell said, “not to
Baghdad in 2004. But he stayed physically
society, but to my involvement in the war.”
active, and on a kayaking trip fell in love
The transition back from war is something
with Portland. In 2008, Pannell moved to
PanneU saidjie has thought about a lot.
Portland, and two years later, moved into a
“I honestly feel like those of us who got
home in Sandy built by thé nonprofit Homes
what we call severely injured ... I really feel
for our Troops. The organization builds
like we have had it a little bit easier than
adapted mortgage-free homes nationwide for
(those who did not). We have to live with
severely injured Iraq and Afghanistan war
these injuries every day, and that’s a
veterans.
reminder, but I was at Walter Reed (National
“Oregon is home now,” Pannell said.
Military Medical Center) for a year and a
Now, the former infantryman is
half after my injury. I was spoon-fed back
celebrating another milestone. On Dec. 14,
into society very, very gradually.”
he was published in “War Stories 2015, an
Service people who are not hospitalized
Anthology,” along with other members of
have more of a culture shock, he said.
American Legion Post 134’s writers’ group.
The group, also called War Stories, is a
mix of veterans and civilians, and that’s the
C O N T R IB U T IN G W R ITE R
■
P H O T O B Y S E A N D A V IS
The emotions
Pannell’s writing is filled with riveting and
often tragic experiences.
“My writing tends to be super emotional,”
he said. “That is not necessarily how I live
my life, but that’s my outlet to purge that
every now and then.”
P H O T O BY
P A U L R IC H
While stories about soldiers often focus
on the action, Pannell said, he prefers to
focus on the emotions that happen
afterward.
“You can be trained to go out there and
kill a bunch of people,” he said, “but what I
See PANNELL, page 11
Pannell on a hike
along Eagle
Creek.