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John Moore / Getty Images
Sgt. JD Williams, 25, and a triple amputee, flowboards on a wave machine at the Center for the Intrepid on Aug. 7. The wave therapy is designed to improve balance, coordination and strength for injured soldiers, most of whom have lost limbs in combat. Williams lost his legs and right arm in October 2010 when he stepped on an improvised explosive device while his unit was on a foot patrol in the Arghandab Valley of southern Afghanistan.
Lieutenant Colonel Donald Gajewski swears he has the best job in the military.
As an orthopedic surgeon and chief of the Center for the Intrepid at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Gajewski oversees the care of soldiers who return from combat with the most severe wounds.
The center, which opened in 2007, is one of three military facilities in the country for amputees, and it also rehabilitates soldiers with serious burns and injured limbs that were not amputated. More than 1,000 service members have been treated at the Center for the Intrepid in the past five years, many of them for lost limbs.
The joy in Gajewski's work comes from watching these soldiers confront the reality of their injuries with the same drive and determination that characterized their military service.
Sgt. JD Williams, 25, (above) lost his legs and right arm in October 2010 when he stepped on an improvised explosive device while his unit was on foot patrol in the Arghandab Valley of southern Afghanistan. Gajewski calls Williams a "superstar" whose nearly two-year-long stay at the center has been defined by his leadership.
"The inspiring thing about JD," Gajewski says, "is that he comes in here and he knows that there are other (amputees) that will look up to him."
One of Williams' goals was to hunt by himself again. Now, Williams not only dresses deer in the field by himself, but he recently took other triple amputees into the woods too. He also has taken up bow hunting.
There is grief and pain, though, as soldiers work to meet their ambitious goals.
Gajewski says they often arrive at Brooke Army Medical Center devastated after three or four days of being evacuated from the front lines to the U.S. hospital. They've spent the time thinking: "My military career is over, my girlfriend is going to leave me, I won’t be able to fly-fish with my dad," Gajewski says.
John Moore / Getty Images
A U.S. Army soldier and leg amputee scales a two-story climbing wall at the Center for the Intrepid on Aug. 7.
John Moore / Getty Images
At the Center for the Intrepid at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, soldiers confront the reality of their injuries with the same drive and determination that characterized their military service.
The center tries to show patients a different future by matching them with a soldier in rehabilitation, who might walk through the door on two prosthetic legs. "That’s when it clicks," Gajewski says.
A soldier with a single below-the-knee amputation might stay at the center for six months, receiving a prosthetic and physical and occupational therapy. The timeline lengthens with the severity and number of amputations; for those who lost both legs above the knee, a stay at the center might last as long as two years.
Among the amputees treated at the center, 17 percent have returned to active duty once recovered, and some eventually deploy again, often in support roles. A handful have even returned to combat. Of the 49,000 Iraq and Afghanistan casualties, more than 1,400 have been amputees.
"These guys have a lifetime of adversity in front of them, but from what they show us," Gajewski says, "I think they’re going to do pretty well."
Rebecca Ruiz is a reporter at NBC News. Follow her on Twitter here.
John Moore / Getty Images
Certified prosthetist Robert Kuenzi holds a life-like sleeve for a prosthetic arm at the Center for the Intrepid on Aug. 7. Artists paint the rubber covers, complete with custom tattoos, which slide over prosthetic arms and legs made at the center for military amputees.
Leave a Comment:
I love you all. Thank you for your service!
That's great for the wounded soldiers, truly is. But, why are we stil there? Does anyone believe that telling a wounded soldier "the Afghan people appreciate the fact you lost X number of limbs and they will dedicate their lives to growing something other than poppies now" does anything to make the loss seem like it was for a worthwhile cause? Didn't think so.
These stories inspire me to no end. The determination these wounded warriors show should be a lesson to all.
I just wish we could get to a point where these young men and women wouldn't have to make these sacrifices.
It's very simple: Get the Hell out of Dodge. Do what Nixon did - declare victory and get out.
God bless each and everyone of you soldiers. We owe you our freedom. We owe you the best treatment possible!!! Bless the Doctors that treat you and may God lay his hand on him while he treats the soldiers in his care. Thanks for your service gentlemen!
I love the custom tattoo! How cool to do that! :D
nice to know my tax money went into that tattoo.
Doubtful. However, if you need your tax money so badly that you'd begrudge it even if it did go towards a tattoo for a guy who lost *3* limbs in combat, you're a pathetic little weasel. Having to wake up every day and be you for the whole days sounds miserable, you have my sympathies. Jerk.
markl323
I would not mind if all my tax dollars went to help these men and women, I would actually rather they did than some of the stuff they do get spent on. If anyone deserves the best we can give them, it is our military, especially the ones coming home with broken bodies. I don't know who came up with this saying, but it pretty much sums it up.
a Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to
The United States of America for an amount of ‘up to and including my life.’
i don't need any of you moron's sympathy.
you morons are the ones that will be crying and whining at the welfare office when austerity comes.
these people need limbs not cool looking tattoos and i make no apologies for pointing out every single ridiculous thing our gov has spent money on. so go F yourself righteous POS.
How do you know one of his friends didn't put the tat on?
I lost my left leg below the knee in Vietnam in 1973. The military gave me a prostetic that at that time in history was just a peg leg. I wanted to stay in the Air Force and after many wavers and physical tests including a lot of runnin I was able to stay in after two years of therapy. I ended up doing 25 years of service but had to change jod. I was an Air Combat controller and ended cross training into finance (desk job). I know how these guy feel but setting goals for yourself really sets a person on the right course, which I did. Thru the years prostectics got better and better and I've had 14 differant of them. The prostetics today are wonderful and high technology due to the wars now. So many soldiers are coming home with amputations due to roadside bombs.
My prostec is called a "C" leg. Made out of titamium and carbon fiber. Most people do not even realize I have one unless I wear shorts. A "C" leg has electronic servos that allow the wearer to bent the ankle normally, all controlled by nerve connections with an override controller on the belt. Those who lost appendages ubove the knee also can get a "C" leg. The only problem is the VA will not pay for the leg. My leg cost me $28,000.00 and those above the knee over $60,000.00, which sucks! The most the VA will pay for a prostetic is up to $15,000.00 and those legs do have joints at the knee but not the ankle with no electronics for function. It is like wearing a 2x4! However I am able to ride a motorcycle normally as the shift peg is on the left.
I get some funny looks and praise when I wear shorts on my Harley, however, I can only hold up a 1200 Sportster as the weight of the heavier bikes is difficult!
Oh, I was also able to serve in the 1st Gulf war and Somalia. Received Purple Heart and Silver Star, with Valor from Vietnam.
What bother me more today are the number of homeless Veterans! It is a very high number.
That's awesome you were able to overcome and thank you for your service! Inspiring.
Thanks for your service njofaustin! The VA provides everything you don't really need and they could fund the best prostecs easily if people think it's important enough. Appreciate greatly you sharing your story. Ride safe.
@ njofaustin - thank you for your service
njofaustin
It is a shame that the VA does not provide amputee's with the best available prostesis. I doubt that they are nearly as costly for them as they are for an individual. Thankful that you are able to do the things that you do. That is a curious moniker, nj of austin, how did you come up with that? I see a lot of differant names and can relate them to something, but that one is differant. I copped mine because of the Byrds and Bob Dillon. Have a good one.
The VA provides what they can afford. They are underfunded and the Tea Partiers don't want to pay the necessary taxes.
parallelcooler
Well, hopefully this isn't going to turn into a political debate, but the Tea party has only come into play since the last election, so they have nothing to do with the taxes being what they are. We have a democrat majority and a democrat president. The military and military benefits have taken hits from both sides in the last 20 years. I remember when I was in and we were short on funds to train. One of the N.C.O.'s made the remark that it could change in November, if a republican got in office. I had never paid much attention to that until then and the democrats always seem to be hard on the military when they are the majority. But like I say, this is not a place for politics, it is about our young men and women returning from war with broken bodies and the spirit that drives them.
This should be a sober reminder to politicians and pundits who spout bravado from a safe distance
This place is awesome! Bravo to the brave men and women who heal here and all the care providers and a huge thank you to Mr. Fisher for making it possible!
God bless you all.
My son is a triple amputee and is in Hawaii right now filming his story. Sea of Inspiration the Brian Kolfage Story. He's surfing,scuba diving and diving with the Navy Seals. The equipment and prosthetics that are available are out of this world and getting better. The Wounded Warrior Project has been front and center for are brave warriors.
Please tell your son that we wish him the very best.
my publisher in AZ was good enough to forward this excellent article about the grit and determination of our wounded warriors. It was received in a timely fashion as I just returned from my weekly visit to Walter Reed National medical center. Today I met with several amazing amps... Mark for example, was "blown up on 8/16/10 two days after his daughter Isabella third birthday. Two years later mark is making amazing progress without the benefit of any meds and attributes his motivation to his spouse an little girl. Speaking of meds... I have come to know an incredible M.D. who was a grad of West Point, has an MBA degree and now as a practicing physician. Eric worries about "care giver fatigue." This doctor has seen combat, been blown up himself and know spends long days away from his twin children and spouse by caring for our courageous wounded warriors. I could carry on about other amazingly courageous and cheerful warriors like Sgt. Travis Mills whose ten thousand kilawot smile brightens every room he enters. My thanks to Rebecca and NBC news for shining a necessary light on the wounded warriors their caregivers and the families... this team inspires all who observe their grit and determination.
Great story! Glad to know this info!
Wonder if there is anything like this for emotionally wounded people.
These men and women should be whole in body.
That so many came home missing limbs for a cause that is horribly misaligned is just a shame.
Bring the rest of them home now...and spare them their bodies, minds, and lives.
Thank you for sharing this story. Many people do not realize what these brave servicemen and women are doing and think that after a devastating injury or illness a person's life has to be over. As a physical therapist for over 20 years, I know very well that a major injury or illness does not mean a person's life is over-not if they are willing to work hard! It's great for me to see the advancements that have been made in prosthetics since I've been a PT. (BTW, how much a person can progress is not limited by age, for anyone who may think that care is wasted on older people whether vets or not.)
It is sad to see young men lose limbs for a war that was based on a lie ..looking for WMD's in Iraq that did not exist.
I transported these Veterans as a critical care air transport nurse in 2003. I had the privledge to work at BAMC/Ft Sam Houston and saw the outstanding medical and mental health care these Veterans received. I too, can not say enough about our soldiers,sailors, marines, and coast guard heros even today. But what is disturbing too many of our service members have committed suicide both here at home and overseas. We have 11 years of combat injuring 50,000, over 5000 deaths, and countless number of Veterans needing our help. I am embarassed to hear that a fellow Veteran cannot have a prosthetic leg paid for by our VA. Sometimes cost is not the only thing we have to worry about as Americans. A very loud cry should go out to our president and congressmen and women to update our committment to our service members. We are obligated to pay whatever it takes to make these heros whole again!
I have had a terrible and stressful week at work, today being worse than all the other days combined. Finally on break, I opened the internet to NBC news. There was the photo of the 25 year old veteran surfing. That beautigul photo quickly ripped me out of my anger-filled pity party and slapped me back into reality. To those of you that posted who are veterans/active military, and parents of veterans/active military - THANK YOU!! Because of your sacrifice and bravery, I will go home tonight, free to do whatever I choose, and go wherever I wish. God bless all of you.
I grieve daily at the headlines telling me another soldier has been killed or maimed. Those that do make it back home leave a part of themselves there, be it psychological or physical. And then today I read that suicides among service members set a record month in July. We are squandering our most priceless treasure on this war without end.
The United States is not an African tribe. Personnel in the military are not "warriors." They Marines, soldiers, Airmen, etc.
I think most people here would disagree with you on that. Of course soldiers are "warriors."
Thank you for your service Sgt. JD Williams and all other service men & women. (* I had to laugh at the picture a bit ... from afar, the color of your shorts makes it looks as if you're knee-boarding in the nude.)
I thought that too. There is an odd, exploitative perversity about putting this particular photo on the fron page of the website. These guys dreserve respect and a little privacy.
If these men were not losing limbs, and eyes, and faces simply to feed a greedy corporate war industry, or to protect an even greedier oil industry, I could feel good about their sacrifices. However, these men and women have suffered for no great or noble cause. You can play the silly tune of "fighting for our freedom" all you want, but only a fool believes such propaganda. We have spent a decade killing mostly innocent people in far away lands. We tell ourselves that America is a great nation that frees the oppressed. In reality, we are little better than the Soviet empire that tried to enslave Afghanistan in the 1980's. It's all about the money. And that is why the Karmic debt of America is so great. Our nation will never regain its standing in the world, as long as we send our military to fight wars of economic choice.
Shame on you! This article was about the great things that are being done for young men and women that have had life altering injuries. Whether or not they have served or been involved in serious accidents, this is not the platform for what you are spewing.
This story, and countless others, I would expect no less from these heros. The same courage, intestinal fortitude they had to volunteer to join the military, now shows in their recovery. Be brave my brothers and sisters of the armed forces, we who have been, know, and we support you all.
For those on this post who would take the time to politicize this article, I have something to say to you as well, go f%ck yourselves. If you had 1/10th of the courage these brave men and women have, your post would mean something. These men and women took an oath, to uphold the constitution of the United States, to defend against all enemies, foreign and DOMESTIC. And they are not there to fight for you, they are there fighting for each other. To paraphrase Col. Nathan R Jessup, I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think.
I am all for helping the wounded Vet. We pray for all vet who were wounded physically and mentally.
thank you thank you for your service and sacrifice. The prosthetic sleeve is phenomenal.
Whether people consider service to one's country an honor, a sacrifice, a duty, or whatever other words are used to describe such, I will tell you one thing ... all of these men/women (as well as their families) that strive to overcome disabilities and disfigurements are truly awe-inspiring with their persistence, perserverence and drive to live life by adjusting as best they can, moving forward, onward and upward.
You are all a bright, shining light, an example of strength and love of life to be lived to the fullest of each of our abilities. Thank you for your service.
These are the men and women that I have the most respect for!!