2019

TJ was born in Germany in 1984 to two German parents.  After his parent’s divorce, his mother met and married a soldier stationed in Germany and they all moved to the United States.  Tim learned to speak English and was naturalized as a US citizen after his mother became a citizen.

He joined the Army in 2004 and was stationed at Ft. Stewart along with his stepdad.  They deployed together twice in the same battalion.  Tim was on his second deployment in Iraq as an artilleryman when he was left a double amputee after an IED explosion.  On June 19, 2007, shortly after taking over as the driver of a Humvee, his vehicle rolled over a pressure plate IED that exploded through the floorboard, immediately amputating his right leg below the knee and his left leg above the knee.   reaction by the medic and medevac team saved his life.  He was stabilized and transported to a local hospital before later being airlifted to Landstuhl, Germany and finally to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he rehabbed for nearly two and a half years.

TJ loves outdoor activities including, golfing, fishing, hunting–anything that gets him outside.  He also enjoys drawing and reading.  Currently he is retired and is taking that opportunity to be a stay-at-home dad.  He loves being a father but is looking forward to getting back to work.  He has been interning with his prosthetist in the technician lab and hopes to get into prosthetic work.

TJ and his wife, Jackie, have two boys Oliver (8) and Sullivan (5) and live in Elizabeth, CO.

Ryan was born in Phoenix, Arizona.  After high school, he attended Arizona State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in Justice Studies.  During his education at Arizona State, Ryan completed the Army ROTC program and was commissioned as an Armor officer.

After completion of Army Officer Basic and Airborne schools, Ryan’s first duty station was Ft. Riley, KS where he was assigned to 1^st Battalion, 13^th Armor Regiment.  Ryan deployed to Taji, Iraq in February 2005 where he led patrols, raids, and cordon and searches in the area surrounding the base.  On November 29, 2005 while returning from an early morning cordon and search, Ryan’s vehicle was hit with IED buried in the road.

His injuries resulted in the catastrophic amputation of his right arm and left leg.

After being evacuated to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Ryan remained in a coma for two weeks before slowly beginning rehabilitation.  Ryan retired from the Army as a Captain in May 2007 and he and his wife decided to relocate to the Washington, D.C. area.

Currently Ryan works with Wounded Warrior Project, one of the organizations that played a large role in his recovery, as the Combat Stress Recovery Program Director. Ryan oversees the operation of the CSRP team who facilitate events focused on increasing resiliency and physiological well-being.

Ryan enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Nancy, and their three children; Jillian (12), Liv (10), and Evan (8).

Robert, originally from Mexico, Missouri, enlisted in the Army in 1999.  During his 11 years of service as an Infantryman he was deployed to Iraq twice – once in 2003 with the 4th Infantry Division and again in 2008 with 1st Infantry Division.

On May 17, 2009, a US combat patrol was attacked in Baghdad, Iraq.  The attack was initiated by an EFP that hit the vehicle Robert was riding in resulting in the amputation of both legs below the knee.  He was evacuated to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he spent 18 months rehabilitating.  He was eventually medically retired from the Army as a Staff Sergeant.

Robert returned to Missouri after his military service and encountered difficulties adjusting.  Utilizing the character and fortitude he learned in the military, Robert learned to meet his challenges head on and overcome many obstacles he once thought impossible.

Robert has been an advocate for veterans since retiring from the Army.  He currently works at Veterans Unite.  As a loan officer specializing in the VA home loan, he helps veterans purchase the land they fought so hard to protect.  Robert volunteers as a Board Member at the local homeless veteran’s shelter, Welcome Home Inc., in Columbia, MO.  He also volunteers as a Veteran Service Officer with the DAV filing VA disability claims on behalf of those who served.

Robert currently resides in Columbia, MO, with his wife Krystal and their three children Sebastian (18), Lyric (9) and Emmett (1-1/2) in his home built by Homes for Our Troops.

Preston was born in Atlanta, GA.  He moved to Franklin, TN in 1990 and graduated from Franklin High School 1997.  He played football and lacrosse during high school.  He attended the University of Tennessee in 1998.

In 2000, he joined the Army.  He attended basic training at Ft. Knox, KY and AIT at Ft. Gordon, GA where he became a radio operator maintainer.  He was reclassified in 2005 to 11 Bravo.

During his career, Preston was assigned to the 101^st airborne division in TN.  He was deployed to Afghanistan twice and Iraq twice during OEF/OIF.  His convoy was hit by an IED on May 28, 2008.  Preston sustained critical injuries resulting in the loss of his right leg and damage to the left leg.  His awards and decorations include the Air Assault Badge, Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal (2), Army Achievement Medal (4), Combat Infantry Badge, Combat Action Badge.

He enjoys hunting, fishing and blacksmithing.  He is an archery coach and Scout Master for his stepson, Gage (13).  Preston retired from the Army in 2012.  Preston, his wife, Lisa, and Gage now reside in Manchester, TN.

Patrick was born in Cornwall, NY and raised in Highland Falls, NY.  He enlisted into the Army in September 1987.  His duty assignments included Ft. Bliss, TX; Ft. Huachuca, AZ; Ft. Bragg, NC; Ft. Lewis, WA and two tours each in Iraq, Korea, Germany and one tour in Bosnia/Kosovo. 

Patrick was struck by an IED on October 20, 2007.  He feels that his injury has not caused him to stop doing anything he did prior to that, he just does them differently now.  He has taken part in several fishing trips in Florida sponsored through Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  Since his injury, he has joined several organizations with a focus on the disabled such as Disabled Sports USA, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Wounded Warrior Project.  He has hiked many trails throughout Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, North Rim Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell.  He has even skied Breckenridge, CO, which was not on his to do list prior to injury!

He has been awarded a Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal among others.

Patrick retired from military service in July 2009 and entered the federal workforce as a contract Program Analyst for the Department of Homeland Security for the National Infrastructure Coordination Center (NICC).  In February 2015, he transitioned as a federal employee.  He is currently working for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as a Federal Exercise Manager conducting Active Shooter and All Hazard discussion based and operational drills for the nation’s critical industries owners and operators.

Pat has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from East Coast Polytechnic Institute and is currently enrolled at American Military University pursuing a dual master’s degree in Emergency and Disaster Management and Homeland Security.  He lives in Alexandria, VA.

Luis is from northern Virginia.  He volunteered for military service after high school and entered the Army in September 1996 to be an Airborne Ranger.  

In November 2003, he began the Special Forces Qualification Course and he earned the coveted Green Beret in 2005 and was assigned to Fort Bragg, NC as a Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha Communication Sergeant.  In July 2007 he then went to the Special Forces Intelligence Sergeants Course and was assigned as the intelligence sergeant on Operational Detachment Alpha 3336.  In 2011 he was assigned to the United States John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School where he was an Intelligence Instructor at the Special Forces Intelligence Sergeants Course.

On April 6, 2008, Luis was on a combat operation called Commando Wrath in the mountains of Nuristan, a province in Afghanistan.  This operation was one of the biggest gun fights in 2008.  Luis and three of his teammates were severely injured.  He was gravely wounded after being shot twice through the right leg while saving a teammate’s life.  He lost ¾ of his blood before he could be transported to the nearest Combat Field Hospital.  The story of this battle can be read in the book “No Way Out: A Story of Valor in The Mountains of Afghanistan,” by Mitch Weiss and Kevin Maurer.  In this fire fight ten Silver Stars (one upgraded to the Congressional Medal of Honor) and an Air Force Cross were awarded for extraordinary heroism in combat and gallantry in action against an enemy while trying to save each other’s lives in a situation that did not favor any of them living through the battle.

Although retired from the Army, Luis works for the Navy as a federal civilian at the Office of Naval Intelligence, Kennedy Irregular Warfare Center.  He has been awarded a Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and Purple Heart Medal.

Luis graduated summa cum laude from Norwich University with a Bachelor of Science degree.  He is an avid triathlete and competes in local triathlons.  Luis is a Brand Ambassador for Kinetic Multisports.  His own personal mission is to advocate for Paratriathlon and the Physically Challenged division of triathlons and to support triathlons as a safe and healthy lifestyle for veterans.

Luis is married to his high school sweetheart, Kathryne, from Fredericksburg, Va.  They have a two daughters Sophie (8) and Claire (4), and a son Liam (6).  The family actively participates in the Stafford, VA Ebenezer United Methodist Church.