Archive | Soldier Story | Warrior Transition Command

AW2 Veterans Make A Big Impression At Paralympic Games

Filed under Adaptive Sports, Soldier Story by jvargas on March 16, 2010 at 2:10 pm {no comments}

By COL Jim Rice, AW2 Director

AW2 Veteran Andy Soule won America’s first medal of the 2010 Paralympic Games and America’s first Paralympic biathlon medal. He earned the bronze in men’s sitting 2.4km pursuit biathlon (Photo courtesy of Joe Kusumoto Photography).

"It felt just incredible," said Andy Soule in an interview immediately after the race. "I've had World Cup wins and World Cup podiums before, but there's nothing quite like this, in this atmosphere, in front of a crowd here with everyone watching." (Photo courtesy of Joe Kusumoto Photography)

I’m not surprised at all to see AW2 Veterans already emerging as stars of the 2010 Paralympic Games. While all AW2 Veterans are resilient, it’s wonderful to see these two incredible Veterans achieving greatness.

On Friday, AW2 Veteran Heath Calhoun carried the U.S. flag in the opening ceremony, an incredible honor for any athlete, and especially for a Veteran who has already sacrificed so much for our country. Heath lost both legs above the knee while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and he will compete in Alpine Skiing later this week.

“It’s an incredible honor to be able to carry the American flag – it’s something that I believe in,” said Heath in a video on the U.S. Paralympics Web site. “If I win a medal and they raise the American flag, I will be crying. The national anthem means a lot to me – I was injured for what that flag stands for.”

If that weren’t enough, AW2 Veteran Andy Soule made history on Saturday by winning America’s first medal of the 2010 Paralympic Games and America’s first Paralympic biathlon medal. He earned the bronze in men’s sitting 2.4km pursuit biathlon, and said it was a “dream come true.” Andy is also a double amputee who served in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Congratulations to Andy for your medal and to Heath for carrying the U.S. flag, and good luck to you both and to all the athletes as you compete throughout the rest of the week.

AW2 Weekly Digest March 8-12

Filed under Soldier Story, Weekly News Digest by jvargas on March 15, 2010 at 9:00 am {no comments}

AW2 Soldier SGT Daniel Biskey was featured in an Union-Tribune article about the Comprehensive Combat and Complex Casualty Care center at San Diego Naval Medical Center.
AW2 Veterans Joe Bowser and Michael Cain were featured on NBC Nightly News in a story on wounded warriors using hockey to move past injuries.
AW2 Veteran and Alpine skier Heath Calhoun, featured on ESPN, carried the flag for the U.S. Paralympic Team at the opening ceremonies of the Paralympic Games.
AW2 Soldier CW2 Romulo Camargo, featured in Navy Times, received assistance from the expanded Homeowners Assistance Program. He was also featured in Army News in a story about his friends and comrades giving him a custom motorcycle for Daytona Bike Week.
AW2 Soldier SFC Joeseph Kapacziewski, featured in Air Force Times, attended the Vail Veterans Program to ski in Colorado.
AW2 Veteran Latoya Lucas, featured in PR Newswire, was named a 2009 Tony Snow Public Service Award Recipient for her strength, courage, and unwavering desire to help others that allowed her to triumph and serve as an inspiration to her fellow wounded warriors.
AW2 Veteran Andy Soule, featured in USA Today, competed in cross-country skiing and biathlon in the 2010 Paralympics. (Congratulations on winning the broze medal.)
AW2 Veteran Luke Wilson, featured in the Oregonian, joined the Paralympic Torch Relay and is hoping to compete at the 2014 Paralympics.

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations.

AW2 Soldier Takes Command

Filed under Soldier Story by jvargas on March 12, 2010 at 2:00 pm {no comments}

CPT Ray O'Donnell speaks during the change in command ceremony.

Recently, AW2 Soldier CPT Ray O’Donnell took command of Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT), 25th Infantry Division. HHC 2/25 SBCT is a company that makes up the brigade staff and the Soldiers that support the staff. O’Donnell was severely injured in western Afghanistan when he was ejected from a Humvee that fell into a gulch and crashed into trees in 2007. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and severe damage to his face, femur, hip, nerves, pelvis, and spinal cord. He still has severe paralysis in his lower left leg and wears a prosthetic-like brace that allows him to run. I was able to track down O’Donnell while he was in training at Fort Irwin, CA.

What does it mean to you to be an AW2 Soldier?

I view myself as a Soldier just like the Soldiers to my left and right.

The 25th Infantry Division has a storied U.S. Army history and has rightfully earned its nickname, “Tropic Lightning.” What does it mean to you to be taking command of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team of such a storied Infantry Division?

I am humbled to have been entrusted with the awesome responsibility of command.

Of the many movies that have depicted the 25th Infantry Division in some way, which is your favorite?

“From Here to Eternity” is a neat look at soldiering in Hawaii in the days leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Many of the buildings in that movie still stand today in Schofield Barracks.

What advice do you have for other AW2 Soldiers who want to continue with their service in the Army?

If you want to stay in the Army, make your intentions clear with your PEBLO and case manager and educate yourself through your AW2 Advocate about COAD/COAR. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. The Army can find ways to employ you if you want to continue serving. Maintain expectation management because you may not be able to do the same job you had before you were injured, but there are jobs where you can contribute if you are flexible and want to serve. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

I’ve read articles about your participation in triathlons. Can you tell me about why you compete?

I spent 28 months in recovery and had to learn to walk again. I wanted to prove to myself that I could enjoy the same activities as I did before and also continue to serve and contribute in the Army. I was in a race against myself. The biathlon and triathlon were measuring tools for me and showed that I could continue to wear the uniform.

Did the training and competing in these events help prepare you for transitioning back to active duty in the Army?

The training was one in the same. The physical therapists at Tripler Army Medical Center helped me prepare for these events—which was also getting my body ready for my return to duty.

Is there anything else you would like to share with AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, or their Families?

If there’s a will, there’s a way. Always get a second opinion on everything and don’t let anyone just tell you “no.”

AW2 Veteran Joe Bowser Inspires New Federal Employees

Filed under Soldier Story by jvargas on March 10, 2010 at 7:43 pm {no comments}

By Sarah Greer, WTC Stratcom

AW2 Veteran Joe Bowser competes in the 2008 Standing Amputee Hockey World Championships. Bowser is currently training for the 2010 championships in April.

Last week, I had the privilege of hearing AW2 Veteran Joe Bowser address approximately 200 new hires at the Defense Contract Management Agency. The group had heard from a wide range of speakers on topics like acquisitions regulations and DOD policies.

When Joe Bowser walked in, the crowd offered a long standing ovation. Joe told his story, focusing on April 12, 2004, the day he was injured by 122mm rocket after leaving the phone tent, where he had just checked in with his children.

“I went from screaming for help to wondering how am I going to get back to my unit,” said Joe. “How would I tell my kids I got hurt?”

Within a few days, Joe had been routed out of Iraq, through Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, and ultimately to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he received most of his treatment. On April 23, eleven days after his injury, Joe’s doctors gave him a choice.

“They said we could salvage the leg, but I’d have pain and walk with a brace for the rest of my life. Shrapnel had gone through my foot and shattered the bone,” Joe explained. “Or I could have it amputated and do everything I used to do before. I wanted to play hockey again, so I told him to take it off.”

These days, Joe plays hockey every chance he gets, and you can watch a recent news story about Joe below. He even told the crowd he was planning to play that evening. In 2008, he played on the U.S. National Amputee Hockey Team and won a silver medal at the Standing Amputee Hockey World Championships. Now, he’s training for the 2010 championships at the end of April.

“My wife calls herself a hockey widow,” he joked. “Since my PT [physical therapist] pushed me back on the ice in 2005, I’ve stopped focusing on what I can’t do and turned to what I can do. I never thought hockey would bring me this far.”

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense of the linked Web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities, such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations.

AW2 Weekly Digest March 1-5

Filed under Soldier Story, Weekly News Digest by jvargas on March 8, 2010 at 4:37 pm {one comment}

AW2 Soldier PVT Joshua Lindsey was featured in Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an article about the community and a nonprofit organization coming together to build him a house.
AW2 Veteran Shannon Meehan, featured on CNN, discussed post-traumatic stress disorder and his current endeavors.
AW2 Veteran Pedro “Pete” Perez, featured in the Herald Tribune, is more hopeful today than at any time since his injury day because of a yellow Labrador retriever.

AW2 Veteran Receives Purple Heart from BG Cheek

Filed under Advocate Story, Soldier Story by jvargas on March 5, 2010 at 10:00 am {no comments}

By Ayandria Barry, AW2 Advocate

(L-R) BG Gary Cheek, WTC Commander, AW2 Veteran Mike Timm, and AW2 Advocate Yan Barry at the Purple Heart ceremony.

On April 4, 2004, in Sadr City, Iraq, AW2 Soldier SGT Mike Timm’s platoon had just returned from patrolling in the city and within 10 minutes there was a call for the entire Forward Operation Base to load up. He wasn’t clear on what the mission was but within minutes they were loaded up and moving out of the base in a convoy. SGT Timm was in the back of a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV), when they were told that they were going to rescue a patrol that had taken fire and was pinned down in the city.

On the way to rescue them, many of the roads were blocked by makeshift road blocks and tire-fires. As SGT Timm’s patrol made a turn a few blocks from the objective they came under heavy fire, and he was the first of many to be hit. A bullet went through his left forearm and entered his right forearm, blowing out an inch of bone and leaving him unable to use his hands. The next few minutes were horrible as he lay on his back unable to do anything while his fellow comrades were under fire. After what seemed like forever they started moving and he was hit again in his right knee, leaving it peppered with shrapnel. To this day, he is still seeing doctors to remove the shrapnel that pierced his leg.

On January 7, 2010, AW2 Veteran Mike Timm was presented his Purple Heart in a ceremony performed by BG Gary Cheek, Commander, Warrior Transition Command. As Mike’s AW2 Advocate, I worked with the Army Awards Section to ensure this Soldier’s award was rceived. I helped review his records and get the proper documents to the Awards Branch and on August 26, 2009, he was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries received in the attack that ended his military career.

When BG Cheek presented the Purple Heart during the ceremony at the Warrior Transition Command, Mike said, “Before today I did not feel like I was still a part of the military, today I know that I am still a part of the Army Family and it feels good.”

Seeing Mike receive his Purple Heart was a great experience for me. Being the daughter of a Soldier that was killed in Vietnam, I was proud to be in attendance to personally see the Soldier receive his Purple Heart.

Soldier Graduates from Maneuver Captain’s Career Course

Filed under Soldier Story by jvargas on February 26, 2010 at 8:00 am {no comments}

LTC Fredrick Dummar, commander of the Special Operations Recruiting Battalion at Fort Bragg, NC, congratulated CPT Ivan Castro on graduating from the Maneuver Captain's Career Course.

CPT Ivan Castro was the first blind student and graduate of the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course (MCCC). He was severely wounded by a mortar blast in 2006 while deployed with the 82nd Airborne Division. With a 20-year Army career under his belt, Castro is determined to continue wearing the uniform and serving the country. He now serves as the operations officer for the U.S. Special Operations Recruiting Battalion, Fort Bragg, NC. I recently was able to catch up with CPT Castro to ask him about his accomplishment.

How did it feel being the first blind student at the MCCC?

I am glad to have completed the course, although it could not have been done without the support from my classmates, cadre, and my command. They treated me like everyone else. There is a place for us wounded warriors—as long as you have the right mindset, are willing to adapt, and have the right attitude and tools.

What tools do you use?

I use an audio voice recorder and screen reader software provided by DOD through programs like CAP [Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program]. CAP is the best! They have provided me with training, hardware, and software in order to continue to be productive in an office setting.

What are some things that have helped you as a wounded Soldier?

CPT Castro ran the Bataan Memorial Death March in 2008.

Working out is a stress relief for me. It takes me to another place. I really enjoy spinning, cycling, running, and weight lifting. I have a few marathons coming up this year in March, April, May, June, and all the military service marathons as well. Last year I ran a 50-miler, and I plan to do it again this year. I also have a strict diet, try to get restful sleep, and am blessed with ample support from Family and friends. I also try to give back by mentoring other Soldiers through SOCOM’s Care Coalition. I tell them to look at what they can do and not dwell on the losses. I try to motivate them and give them tough love.

How do you feel about your new position at the recruiting battalion?

It feels great. I have the ability to inform Soldiers about an advanced career opportunity within the Army. Previous to my injury, my intent was to become an SF ODA [Special Forces Operations Detachment Alpha] Team Leader. Since that is no longer possible, my command has allowed me to play a vital role within Special Operations. I love wearing the uniform and love serving the country. I have the experience as an enlisted Soldier and as an officer. I can show interested candidates how Special Forces takes care of you and your Family no matter what.

AW2 Weekly Digest February 15-19

Filed under Soldier Story, Weekly News Digest by jvargas on February 23, 2010 at 7:30 pm {one comment}

AW2 Soldier SPC Steve Baskis, featured in the Daily Herald, is participating in “Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies” program to help him rebuild his body and train for the 2012 Paralympics in London.
AW2 Soldier MAJ Tammy Duckworth, featured in the Hampton Roads Daily Press and Hampton Roads Recon, spoke on post-combat stress and traumatic brain injury at the 2010 Virginia is for Heroes Conference in Richmond.
AW2 Veteran Dawn Halfaker, featured in Good Housekeeping, discussed the need for more female care at VA medical centers.
AW2 Veteran Scott Winkler, featured on WJBF-TV, told his story about competing in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics—which will be chronicled in a movie—and teaching and training other injured Veterans.

AW2 Weekly Digest February 1-5

Filed under Soldier Story, Weekly News Digest by jvargas on February 17, 2010 at 3:04 pm {no comments}

AW2 Veterans Omar Avila, Ferris Butler, Charles Dominguez, Jay Fain, and Lonnie Moore and AW2 Soldiers SFC Joshua Olson and SFC Michael Schlitz, featured in DOD News and The Lead Online, returned to Iraq as part of Operation Proper Exit, a program aimed at helping the warriors find emotional closure after being injured.
AW2 Veteran Zach Gardner, featured in Arkansas City Traveler, was connected with a nonprofit group that gave him a computer to assist with his college classes through his AW2 Advocate.
AW2 Veteran Sean P. Moore, featured in Army News, was hired by the Sierra Army Depot through the assistance of AW2.
AW2 Soldier CPT Scott M. Smiley, featured in DOD News and Times Herald-Record, became the first blind officer to lead a company as he assumed command of the Warrior Transition Unit at the U.S. Military Academy.
AW2 Veteran Matt Staton, featured in DOD News, received technology-based assistance that has enabled him to embark on a successful post-military life.
AW2 Veteran Dave Sterling, featured in The Garden City Telegram, spent a weekend of hunting and bantering with fellow servicemen at the Heartland Heroes Hunt at Fort Carson, CO.

AW2 Weekly Digest January 18-29

Filed under Soldier and Family Story, Soldier Story, Weekly News Digest by jvargas on February 1, 2010 at 9:53 pm {no comments}

AW2 Veterans and Family members attended the Army Family Action Plan Worldwide Conference in Arlington, VA, and are pictured with Secretary of the Army John McHugh in Army News. [Back row (L-R): Mario and Angelica Bracamonte, Melissa Cramblett and David Proctor, Jared and Jennifer Hatch, Ken and Brenda Kraft, and Jay Wilkerson. Front row (L-R): Vivica Stokes and Secretary of the Army John McHugh holding Stokes’ service dog, Starsky.
AW2 Soldier SPC Michael Brown, featured in Albany Times Union, reunited with his brother and hit the ski slopes at Windham Mountain Resort.
AW2 Veteran Michael Cain and AW2 Soldiers SFC Jonathan Grundy and SSG Preston Jackson were featured in MHS Profiles in an article about outdoor activities and community-supported recreational programs that provide wounded warriors with the confidence, strength, and pride required to heal both body and soul.
AW2 Family, the Calhouns, were featured in a The Leaf Chronicle article about receiving a free house from Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit program.
AW2 Soldier CPT Ivan Castro, featured in The Fayetteville Observer, is the first blind officer to receive a diploma from the Maneuver Captains Career Course at Fort Benning, GA, and is now the operations officer for Fort Bragg’s Special Operations Recruiting Battalion.
BG Gary Cheek, commanding general, U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command (WTC), featured in DOD News, signed an agreement with Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to increase opportunities for wounded warriors.
AW2 Soldier Melissa Cramblett is featured in Recruiter Journal (page 12) in an article about being a volunteer official spokesperson for www.StayStrongNation.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping servicemembers recover from post-traumatic stress disorder.
AW2 Veteran Robert “Bobby” Henline, featured on KENS-TV, shares his story of burn injuries in a standup comedy act to make people laugh and also raise awareness.
AW2 Soldier SGT Quitman “Trey” Lockley and his Family are featured on KKTV- TV in a story about his miraculous recovery from his injuries.
AW2 Veteran Joseph Paulk was featured on WNDU-TV in an article about Operation Mend giving Soldiers their faces back through reconstructive surgery at no charge.
Oregon Soldiers, featured on KVAL-TV, recounted a roadside bomb attack and how they saved AW2 Soldier SPC Jeremy Pierce’s life.
AW2 Veteran Matthew Staton, featured in DOD News, spoke at the 2010 Military Health System Conference about the technology-based care he received through the Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program that has enabled a successful post-military life.
AW2 Veteran Scott Vycital and AW2 Advocate Christine Cook were featured in The Denver Post about how AW2 support Soldiers and Veterans. Vycital, also featured in the Fort Collins Coloradoan, shared a box with the first lady at the State of the Union Address.

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