Capt Kristine Varga

Capt. Kristine Varga tore her Achilles tendon during her first tour in Iraq and was told she would never deploy again.

But she overcame her injury and is now a nurse practitioner with the 86th Combat Support Hospital of Fort Campbell, Ky., which is deployed to Ibn Sina Hospital in Baghdad.

While deployed, Varga is in charge of the outpatient clinic, and she has taken it upon herself to organize activities such as setting up a health fair for the other nurses and collecting stuffed animals, toys and clothes for Iraqi children and families in need, all while taking care of wounded soldiers.

Varga also has set up fan clubs for deployed fans of the Ohio State University Buckeyes and the Cleveland Browns, Cavaliers and Indians. Her efforts have been recognized by the teams’ owners.

On a visit home from Iraq, Varga brought wounded soldiers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Veterans Hospital in Cleveland to a Cleveland Browns football game where they were introduced to the fans and honored for their service.