The Wroblewski Family

Sgt. Gerard “Drew” Wroblewski had a desire to serve his country since he was a young man, as many of the men in his family had done. After spending his college years dedicated to playing football, Wroblewski enlisted in the U.S. Army as an Infantryman on Easter Sunday, March 28, 2005. He was sent to basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, for his first duty station upon graduation.

Wroblewski served on a deployment to Iraq in September 2005, where his unit operated the southwest corridor of Baghdad, better known as the “Sunni Triangle of Death.” On November 29, 2005, while in the gunner position providing rear security during a combat patrol, the vehicle Wroblewski was in came around a corner and suddenly was engulfed in flames from a shaped charge explosion. Wroblewski was medically evacuated from the scene of the incident with intense external bleeding from his ears. He arrived at a temporary hospital tent, where he had superficial shrapnel removed from his face. Eventually, Wroblewski returned to the mission.

After some time passed following his deployment, Wroblewski began to experience severe migraine episodes that affected his ability to function at the level he needed to continue his military career. While spending most of his time in therapy for nearly one year, Wroblewski fought to return to his unit. Unfortunately, he was unable to achieve the type of progress required to return to duty. As a result of encountering hundreds of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and countless high stress situations during his time in service, Wroblewski suffers from post-traumatic migraines and tension, Tinnitus, Cranial Nerve Impingement and more. He medically retired from the Army on November 27, 2008, with a number of accolades, including a Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, and many more.  For Wroblewski, the medals are nice but he is he wouldn't have made it to where he is today without his brothers from his old unit.

In May 2013, Wroblewski graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point with a double major in international studies and political science, with an emphasis on the Middle East, and a minor in history with two years of Arabic. He and his wife, Katelyn, now live in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, where they recently moved to pursue careers and continue to serve our country. 

Thanks to Operation FINALLY HOME, David Bellman Homes and Tim O’Brien Homes, Wroblewski and his wife will be receiving a home in Wisconsin.