The Los Angeles Times runs a front-page story on Corporal Garrett Jones, back in the fight in Afghanistan after losing a leg last year:
On July 23, 2007, Jones was on foot patrol near the Iraqi city of Fallouja when he was injured by a roadside bomb. After the attack, his left leg was amputated above the knee. He developed infections and fevers. His weight dropped from 175 pounds to 125. At 21, Jones faced months of painful rehabilitation and a likely end to his service in the Marine Corps.
One year later, Jones is walking smoothly on a prosthetic leg. He not only continues to serve on active duty, but he has worked his way back to a war zone, serving with his Marine battle buddies in Afghanistan.
(Note the story is sourced from "Camp Barber," which I suspect is named for my old friend
Colonel Bill Barber, Medal of Honor recipient, who would have been so honored and also proud of Corporal Jones.)
More from Jones:
"I want to be someone an injured Marine can talk to," Jones said. "And I can tell them: 'Times will be rough and not always easy as an amputee, but you can still make great things out of an unfortunate situation.' That's what I want to do."
and
Jones didn't get his first prosthesis until November. By the end of December, he had learned how to snowboard again, a sport he had enjoyed for years. He plans to compete in freestyle snowboarding in the 2010 Paralympics in Vancouver, Canada.
Read the whole thing. Twice. And consider a donation to the
Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.