Kade was born and raised in Burlington, CO, the youngest of four brothers and worked on his parents’ farm. From an early age he always wanted to be in the military. His interest was sparked watching the History Channel with stories about our country’s military and the heroism and sacrifice for doing what was need and more. Growing up he was a very physically active kid running, climbing trees and hay bales, grain bins, riding his bike and playing basketball with his brothers. He channeled that energy into school sports and competed in football, basketball, and track. Being part of a team and being in shape helped him get into the military and, as it turned out, also led him to meet a girl in seventh grade who would later become his wife.
Kade joined the Marine Corps in 2004, trained for a year before being deployed to Iraq and was stationed at Camp Ramadi as an Infantry rifleman. On October 8, 2005, while on patrol, his Humvee ran over a dual stacked IED. The Humvee exploded, ejecting him and leaving him near death with injuries including a depressed skull fracture, collapsed lungs and a severe leg injury.
He was airlifted to Landstuhl, Germany where his right leg was amputated above the knee, 40% of his skull was removed to alleviate swelling of the brain, and he was put in a drug induced coma. Once stateside at Bethesda Naval Hospital, he remained in a coma for three weeks. The left side of his body was paralyzed from the Traumatic Brain Injury. Kade started his rehabilitation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he stayed for over a year and a half. He had countless hours of physical therapy to learn how to do everything again. He also had several surgeries to revise the amputation and several on his skull to repair the missing piece. Physical and occupational therapy helped him regain most of the function on the left side of his body and learn to walk with a prosthesis.
Kade has worked through his injuries and completed a trade school program in gunsmithing. He currently works at a brewery and loves to home-brew beer. He enjoys shooting, hunting, skiing, and being outdoors.
Kade and his wife, Becky, were both very young when he was injured. They waited until after he retired to begin their lives together and were married in 2008. Kade and Becky feel incredibly blessed with their amazing little family. They welcomed their first baby girl, Zoe, in 2012 and a second baby girl, Makena in 2017. They live in Elizabeth, CO in a handicapped accessible home that was built for them in 2010.
Semper Fidelis
