Determination and Perseverance: two of the many words that describe U.S. Army Soldiers-active and retired. This week, our guest blog post highlights an Army Wounded Warrior Veteran that embodies what it means to persevere and be determined. And in the end, how it all pays off.
Read an excerpt to the blog post written by BG Gary H. Cheek to learn more about AW2 Veteran Andy Soule and his historical win in the 2010 Paralympic Games.
On Saturday, I was excited to learn that AW2 Veteran Andy Soule had won the bronze medal in the men’s sitting 2.4km pursuit biathlon – America’s first medal of the 2010 Paralympic Games and America’s first ever medal in Paralympic biathlon. Andy finished 5th in the qualifying heat, but his perseverance and determination helped him pull through and win the bronze.
Andy volunteered to serve in the Army after 9/11, and he deployed to Afghanistan through Operation Enduring Freedom. He lost both his legs due to an IED [improvised explosive device] explosion. As he recovered, Andy realized the importance of staying active and quickly hit the slopes to learn how to ski.
AW2 Veteran Andy Soule raises his flowers during the medal ceremony at the 2010 Paralympic Games.
To read the entire post, visit http://wtc.armylive.dodlive.mil/blog/.
