Johnathan Jackson
Branch: Army
Rank: Corporal
Home: Williamsburg, VA

Army CPL Johnathan Jackson was on his first deployment when he lost his left leg at the hip after an undetermined toxin poisoning to his system in Bagram, Afghanistan on June 10, 2009. After completing an overnight duty, CPL Jackson returned to his room and sat on his bed to unwind while playing with a gaming system.

 

Nick Thom
Branch: Marine
Rank: LCpl
Home: Manassas, VA

Marine Lance Corporal Nicholas Thom was left a bi-lateral amputee with multiple upper-extremity injuries, and missing three fingers when an IED exploded at his feet in the Musa Qala District of Afghanistan on April 4, 2010.

 

Jeremy Austin
Branch: Marine
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Home: Pulaski, VA

Marine Staff Sergeant Jeremy Austin was on his fifth deployment when he lost both of his legs in an IED attack in Afghanistan in April 2009. Attacked while riding in a convoy that was returning from a mounted patrol in the Helmand Provence, the floorboards of the up-armored HUMVEE mangled SSgt Austin’s legs; the blast leaving him with a fractured pelvis, elbow, ribs, wrist and nose.

 

Michael Martinez
Branch: Marine
Rank: LCpl
Home: Loudon County, VA

Marine Lance Corporal Michael Martinez was 5 months into his first deployment when he lost both of his legs in an IED blast in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on March 11, 2010.

 

Judas Recendez
Branch: Army
Rank: Sergeant
Home: Fredericksburg, VA

Army SGT Jude Recendez suffered the loss of both of his legs while deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in October 2006. While on a routine patrol, an IED struck the vehicle he was riding in, killing the driver instantly and spinning SGT Recendez 180 degrees. Three additional soldiers were also severely injured but were able to remove themselves from the vehicle.

 

Kenny Lyon
Branch: Marines
Rank: Sergeant
Home: Fredericksburg, VA

Marine Sgt. Kenny Lyon was on his second deployment in May 2006 when a mortar attack near Fallujah, Iraq left him with severe injuries. While working to repair his disabled Light Armored Vehicle Sgt. Lyon heard an outgoing mortar but assumed it was quite a distance away. Protected by fellow Marines, Sgt. Lyon continued working on the vehicle when the mortar landed 9 feet behind him.

 

Arthur Woods
Branch: Army
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Home: Warren County, VA

SSG Arthur (Bunky) Woods was returning to his base in Iraq when his platoon stopped to investigate suspicious activity in August 2006. As SSG Woods was directing his platoon, a sniper’s bullet entered the back of his neck, exiting out through his jaw. During the next surreal moments, SGG Woods’ men worked desperately to save his life. He watched the world happening around him as he was loaded into a HUMVEE for evacuation; hearing his platoon members begging him to hold on. Click here to continue...

 

Steven Kiernan
Branch: Marine
Rank: Sergeant
Home: Fredericksburg, VA

Marine Sgt. Steven Kiernan was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq when he suffered life altering injuries that caused him to lose both of his legs in May 2008. While returning from a security patrol and acting as Walking Point, the leading foot patrol, Sgt. Kiernan and his team were hit by an IED, creating confusion in what had moments before been an ordinary day, with children playing in the streets and people out and about.

 

Dwayne Cole
Branch: Army
Rank: Staff Sergeant

A bullet that entered his neck at extremely close range lodged near his spinal column, leaving him a quadriplegic. Lifesaving measures enabled SSG Cole to be airlifted to Balad, Iraq and eventually to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he began his journey to recovery during his six month stay

 

Jonathan Bartlett
Branch: Army
Rank: Corporal
Home: Chesapeake, VA

Jonathan’s platoon was attached to a unit conducting civil-military relations in a village outside Fallujah that had agreed to banish terrorists in exchange for assistance. As they were leaving the village, an IED exploded under his gun-truck.

 

Eugene Simpson
Branch: Army
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Home: Dale City, VA

SSG Eugene Simpson, a 27-year-old father from Dale City, VA was severely injured when an IED exploded near his vehicle in Tikrit, Iraq. That blast sent shrapnel into his stomach and shoulder, shattered bones in both legs and feet, and partially severed his spinal cord, paralyzing him from the waist down.