Do you know someone in the construction industry? Maybe a neighbor who's a carpenter or a cousin that does electrical work? Tell them about this project!
Marine Staff Sergeant Bradley Lang was on his third deployment when he lost both of his legs above the knees and fractured his pelvis when he stepped on an IED in Sangin, Afghanistan on July 24, 2011. While on a mission to safely dispose of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s) at a location where insurgents had been seen burying bombs, SSgt Lang, an Explosive Ordinance Disposal Technician (EOD Tech.), stepped on an unidentified pressure-plate mechanism after identifying and rendering safe two bombs in the same area. Suffering the traumatic amputations of both of his legs, and a fractured pelvis, the sound of the blast was deafening; leaving Brad unable to hear.
Never losing consciousness and reading the lips of his fellow Marines, SSgt. Lang was able to use his EOD training to direct his team to safely remove him from the blast site while they performed life-saving measures and prepared him for medical transport. As the MEDEVAC came under fire from insurgents when flying out of the hostile area, SSgt. Lang was kept informed about what was happening by the flight crew. Airlifted to Camp Bastion, Brad underwent emergency surgery before being stabilized for transport to Landstuhl, Germany where he endured more surgeries prior to being transferred stateside. The next four weeks were somewhat of a blur until SSgt. Lang awoke to find himself in a hospital bed in Bethesda, Maryland…his family by his side. Brad remains at the newly renamed Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at this time; continuing his treatments and therapies. Sgt. Lang relishes the time spent with his wife, Alyssa and their young son, David. A lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Sigma Chi Fraternity, Brad is an active member in his local church as well. He enjoys winter sports including sled hockey and mono-skiing and aspires to join the U.S. Paralympic Mono-Ski Team. Having recently completed his Associates Degree, Brad has plans to pursue a Bachelors Degree in Homeland Security, with plans to complete internships with Federal Agencies during his Rehabilitation.
SSgt. Lang said, “Joining the Marine Corps and becoming an EOD Technician was about more than ensuring freedom. It was about protecting my son, your children, and the children of the future so that they are kept from making the sacrifices so many others have made…sacrifices of both life and limb. Receiving a home from Homes for Our Troops will not only give me and my family an accessible place to live, it will give me the ability to be independent in my own home and for our family to have security for a lifetime. Thank you for this amazing opportunity.”
Project Updates!
Thank you to everyone who came out and celebrated our Key Ceremony for SSgt Bradley Lang and his Family! To photos from this project please go to his project page or his facebook page! ****************************************************************
