May 13, 2003 -- By:Elizabeth O'Hara Teamfox Anchor/Reporter

Like so many others in the 507th Maintenance Company, Sgt. Curtis Campbell was leaving family behind: a wife and his 4 year old daughter.

Sgt. Curtis Campbell/507th Maintenance Co.

"I was looking forward to the adventure, to the challenge of going there and supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom."

No one knew at the time the company would become internationally recognized for the soldiers who were taken captive and held as prisoners of war, known as the bloodiest battle for Fort Bliss soldiers since Vietnam. In all, nine soldiers were killed.

Sgt. Curtis Campbell/507th Maintenance Co.

"I cannot comment on anything that happened directly with the ambush itself, there is still an ongoing investigation in regards to that."

However while recovering in a Washington DC hospital with a shattering gunshot wound to the thigh, Sgt. Campbell visited with Congressman Silvestre Reyes who sits on the House Armed Services Committee.

Reyes says Campbell's heroics the day of the ambush saved lives.

Congressman Silvestre Reyes/(D) El Paso

"Sgt. Campbell jumped off the vehicles, formed a perimeter, went in some cases went and dragged wounded soldiers into that perimeter, policed up weapons and ammunition because they didn't know how long it was going to take to rescue them and actually held out for about an hour before the Marines were able to get to them."

Sgt. Curtis Campbell/507th Maintenance Co.

"Actually, I was just doing my job. And there were so many individuals who collectively did so many great things. Given the situation that we were in, the training that we received helped us all to survive the situation. And because it was an ambush, the only way through an ambush is to go through and fight your way through and each soldier did exactly what they were trained to do."

We asked Sgt Campbell how, with bullets flying and adreneline pumping, he was able to stay focused. He credits a deep faith in God.

Sgt. Curtis Campbell/507th Maintenance Co.

"While I was going through it, there are several things that happened that are miracles to me. And I cannot seem to find how it did what transpired and I think it was my faith in God that helped me get through the situation.

Elizabeth: "Can you tell me one of those miracles?"

Campbell: "Just going through the ambush itself and being alive is a miracle itself. Given the kind of ambush it was and just the situation we're in. It's just a miracle that any of us survived."

These days, Sgt. Campbell is still recoverying, he doesn't know how long he'll have to rehab. But he knows he is survivor and he is proud of all those he fought alongside.

Sgt. Curtis Campbell/507th Maintenance Co.

"They all did what they were trained to do. They all did well."