From: Fort Worth, TX (currently McKinney, TX)
Age: 24
Branch of Service: Army
Rank: Sergeant/E5
Service-Related Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Army Commendation Medal

His Story:

Sgt. Wilson joined the military in March 2007 in Amarillo, TX. He attended Basic Training at Fort Benning, GA before moving with his unit to Schofield Barracks, HI. Wilson deployed to Kuwait on December 7, 2007. On January 18, 2008, Wilson’s platoon was doing a route clearance patrol to clear the roads and buildings of enemy threats and improvised explosive devices. After several miles of route clearance, Wilson’s Stryker vehicle was hit by a deep-buried improvised explosive device. Wilson woke up shortly after to find myself pinned under the metal from the explosion (Nine soldiers were wounded, including Wilson, one was killed, and two and half years later, one is still in a coma).

After the explosion Wilson’s unit was ambushed and had to call in air support to lay down suppressive fire. The medics were not able to get the wounded out of the vehicle for 20 minutes due to the ambush.

Wilson sustained a broken back (L2-L4), a broken left leg (tibia-fibula open fracture), calcaneal fractures to both heels and feet, a fractured right ankle in three places, a broken left jaw and his tongue was bitten nearly in half. Doctors told Wilson that there was little chance he would ever walk again, and if he did, it would be at least 15 months. Through perseverance and support from his then-girlfriend, Katie, he was walking within six months.

Wilson received 30 surgeries to repair his injuries plus other numerous treatments for pain prevention. He is continuing treatment at various VA Hospitals and Clinics in Dallas and Fort Worth.

After spending two and a half years at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Wilson retired from the army June 25, 2010. During his rehabilitation, he and his wife, Katie, both began taking online classes and on May 30, 2010, they received their bachelor’s degrees. Wilson is currently pursuing a career with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and plans to get his master’s degree.