Dan Lasko

Current Wounded Warrior Fellow
Dan Lasko works in the office of Rep. Allyson Schwartz
as a veteran’s affairs caseworker.

On Sept. 11, 2001, he swore allegiance to his country as the newest member of the Marine Corps. An injury forced him to leave the military and redefine his life, yet his commitment to serve his country has remained.

At 22, Corporal Dan Lasko was deployed to Afghanistan where he was assigned to transport Marines through the rocky terrain. Just one month into his deployment he was caught in a firefight and injured when his Humvee collided with two improvised explosive device (IED).

“When something like that happens to you, you don’t feel it for a while,” Lasko said. “But it didn’t take me too long to realize that below the knee my left leg was gone.”

The current fellow with the House of Representatives’ Wounded Warrior program spent the next year in Bethesda, Maryland and at Walter Reed Medical Center rehabilitating his leg and getting fitted with prosthetics.

“I just kept it positive,” he said.

After he retired from the Marines in 2005, Lasko earned his associate’s degree in criminal justice.

The Pennsylvania native stayed positive, in part, by competing in triathlons with his fellow Marines. He traveled around the country nearly every weekend and in two years competed in over 20 races.

His attitude was put to the test shortly after finishing college.

“It was difficult to find a job while I was in college and even after I had my degree,” he said.

Lasko was relieved to find the House had a program to hire wounded veterans. “I thought it was a good idea for the wounded guys coming back who can’t be in the military any more, but who still want to be public servants,” he said.

Lasko, now 26, works for Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz as a caseworker specializing in veteran’s affairs.

“I enjoy working as a Veterans Caseworker for Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz because I can relate to the constituents who are Veterans.  I understand the difficulties and hardships they encounter as I have experienced the same at a young age.  This is a very rewarding job, and it is a win win.”