Lindale veteran discusses Iraq tours, injuries from continued security work

LINDALE, Texas (KLTV) - A decorated East Texas veteran of the Iraq war continues to serve despite his injuries from service and beyond.

John Anderson of Lindale, served nearly 8 years in the u-s army, including tours in Iraq where he was wounded.

“My unit was in the Sunni triangle. I got a dent right here on my head from an IED blast, shrapnel in my shoulder, 5 vertebrae to the top of my back stress fracture, blew out both my knees,” he says.

Suffering injuries that would have classified him as 100 percent disabled, he instead chose to work as a security officer after discharge.

“I want to serve, I want to protect,” John says.

It was December of 2016 when Anderson was working security at a Smith County gameroom when two men attempted to rob the place. He tackled one of the armed men as he fled.

“I saw the gun come up, and I slapped it down, because you don’t want the gun in your face,” Anderson says.

He says the altercation left him with a permanent reminder of the risks of his job.

“Three bullets in the back of my head,” says John.

He says he managed at the hospital to get the doctor to leave them in, for a reason.

“I left them in there ultimately as a testament of father God, and Lord Jesus’ love. And to show that I was protected by the holy armor of God. That’s the honest truth,” says Anderson.

He continues to work as security for Holly Lake Ranch, with a simple outlook.

“At the end of the day, if there’s something you want to do, it’s up to you to do it,” he says.

Anderson is also a volunteer firefighter with the Coffee City Fire Department.

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