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Editors note: This is part of a weekly series published every Monday between Memorial Day and Veterans Day honoring local veterans.

NEWTON FALLS Veteran Steve Lyden may be only in his 20s, but he will have the scars and memories of battle for the rest of his life after serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.

During his year in Afghanistan from December 2011 to November 2012, Lyden was in combat for nearly 400 fights.

We were in more fights than actual days we spent there, Lyden said.

He suffered injuries twice while there, which left shrapnel in his right leg from an explosive in battle. He also suffered more severe shrapnel injuries to the right side of his body when he was standing 5 feet away from a fellow soldier who stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) and was hit.

Lyden, now a Newton Falls police officer, said he has recovered and does not regret serving his country. Two years after graduating from Newton Falls High School, Lyden enlisted in the Army in 2010.

At first, I thought I would enter the Marines, but it didnt sit right so I walked into the Army, and the recruiter I had was great. I felt that was where I really wanted to be, Lyden said.

He went to Fort Benning, Georgia, for basic infantry training and then went to Fort Lewis, Washington.

When he was first deployed to Zharay District, Kandahar, Afghanistan, in late 2011, Lyden was a private. By the time he left in late 2012, he had reached the rank of sergeant.

It may sound crazy, but I loved the thrill of being there. I did lose my best friend, who was killed in battle. I will never forget that. I have his name tattooed on my arm, Lyden said of his comrade, Sterling Wyatt of Missouri.

The two met at Fort Lewis and while they butted heads at first, they soon became friends, he said.

Lyden said being in Afghanistan was at times difficult because the Afghanistan people did not want them there.

The main goal was to try and make the people feel like we should be there to help them and better their living situation. As an infantry member, we were there to protect the people from the Taliban, Lyden said, noting he took part in hundreds of battles, sometimes several on the same day.

I didnt notice it at first, but I went flying. I woke up and picked up my rifle and kept going. Once the adrenaline settled down, I felt the burning in my leg, he said about being injured in an explosion.

A few weeks later is when he suffered another shrapnel injury to his entire right side. He spent a week healing from his injuries before going back to battle. Lyden said he was promoted to team leader as a private and then led the rest of the deployment for five months.

I could not have asked for a better group of guys to go to Afghanistan with. When a whole bunch of privates are put together, they butt heads and have differences, but as soon as the rounds are flying, everyone comes together. That coming together in battle was the best feeling I ever had,Lyden said.

After leaving Afghanistan, he returned to Fort Lewis for several weeks and also spent time at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, before coming home to Ohio. He has recovered from his injuries to some degree.

Lyden, who is medically retired from the military, received two Purple Hearts.

I feel proud that I was able to see combat and to see what the guys in my unit could do. I will always remember the group I deployed with, he said.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com

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Falls police officer fought in Afghanistan - Warren Tribune Chronicle