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Hardly an army of one (Army Captain Amputee David Rozelle)
S D Union ^
| Oct.29, 2005
| Don Norcross
Posted on 10/29/2005 7:17:11 AM PDT by radar101
Army Capt. David Rozelle's right foot was blown off when his Humvee rolled over a land mine in Iraq, in June 2003. The next morning, resting in a hospital bed in a tent outside Baghdad, Rozelle woke up, pressed his palms against the sheets and started doing pushups, then situps.
He had been a four-sport high school varsity athlete in Austin, Texas, played international rugby in the Army and didn't want to lose his athletic identity. "I wanted to stay fit," said Rozelle, who would become the first amputee soldier to return to combat in Iraq.
Since being wounded, Rozelle has competed in 10 triathlons and run the New York City Marathon. He could not have done it, he insists, without the help of the Del Mar-based Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). Through CAF's Operation Rebound program, Rozelle connected with another leg-amputee athlete for invaluable mentoring.
"CAF opened the door for me to continue being an athlete," Rozelle said, "to continue being a competitive athlete."
CAF holds its 12th annual San Diego Triathlon Challenge tomorrow morning at La Jolla Cove. An event that started with a goal to raise $25,000 in 1994 so that a paralyzed Jim McLaren might have a wheelchair-accessible van has now raised more more than $6 million, funding more than 1,700 grants worldwide.
Rozelle, 33, knows all too well the doubts, fears and frustrations that a soldier faces after losing a limb. He had been a Texas high school track finalist in the hurdles and transitioned to the rough and tumble rugby pitch.
Then in an instant, he was missing the lower half of his right leg.
"When I got back to my house, even when I got my first prosthesis, there still were moments of doubt," Rozelle said. "How am I ever going to be able to run again? How am I going to be able to participate in things like rugby, soccer and running like I did before? It seems like that part of your life is lost. That's where the mentorship comes in."
CAF connected Rozelle with one of its spokesmen, Paul Martin. Martin, 38, lost his left leg five inches below the knee in a car accident when he was 25. Since the accident, Martin has run the Boston Marathon in 3 hours, 24 minutes and completed an Ironman-distance triathlon in 10½ hours.
"Paul grabbed me up and said, 'You want to be a cyclist? Here's how. You want to do an Ironman? Let's talk about training for it,' " said Rozelle. "That kind of mentorship creates a confidence to get back and not waste time wallowing in confusion."
Rozelle could have retired from the Army with benefits after his accident. He declined.
"I feel like I had a calling," he said. "Taking care of soldiers had become my passion."
He wrote a book entitled "Back in Action: An American Soldier's Story of Courage, Faith and Fortitude."
About wanting to return to Iraq in March of this year, when he served for four months as a cavalry troop commander, Rozelle said, "Without going back and leading soldiers, I wouldn't have proven myself fully fit and fully healed."
Rozelle was injured three months into Operation Iraqi Freedom. From his Colorado home he made frequent trips to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., counseling wounded soldiers. He now oversees the creation of amputee care centers at Walter Reed and Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
While his job is an administrative one, he visits wounded soldiers every day.
One day he came across Sgt. Carla Best. Best, 29, suffered serious leg wounds a year ago in a roadside bomb explosion outside Baghdad.
Best grew up in the Blythe farming community. In the summer she'd ride her bike 10 miles to school to feed and care for a pet pig. She'd swim every day in those hot summer months.
At first, Best longed to save her left leg. But after her limb was fused, she couldn't exercise, gained 30 pounds and decided to have her leg amputated in June.
Depressed after the surgery, Best took antidepressants.
"They figured the best way to help me was to medicate me," she said.
One day her physical therapist brought in a copy of Runner's World magazine with Sarah Reinertsen on the cover. Thirteen days ago Reinertsen, a CAF spokeswoman and like Best, a leg amputee, became the first female amputee to finish Ironman Hawaii.
"She is so buffed in all the right places," said Best. "You can tell she can just take off in a dead sprint."
Best's physical therapist showed her the magazine cover of Reinertsen and said, "Here's your goal."
"Mold me (like her)," said Best, who has resumed exercising and is off antidepressants.
In addition to mentoring the wounded, Operation Rebound offers online forums, coaching, athletic equipment and travel expenses for competitions and clinics.
Eight soldiers who lost limbs in Afghanistan and Iraq attended last year's San Diego Triathlon Challenge. Some participated on relay teams. Some were recently wounded and could not participate but were inspired by watching physically challenged athletes swimming, cycling and running.
Best will be there tomorrow. She'll meet Reinertsen this weekend.
The need for CAF's involvement in Operation Rebound is obvious: a federal study found that about 6 percent of wounded soldiers in the Iraq war are having amputations, compared with 3 percent in past wars.
"Agree with the war, disagree with the war, our soldiers need our support," said Bob Babbitt, one of the CAF co-founders. "When somebody's made the great sacrifice, giving a limb for his or her country, the least we can do is make sure there's not a gap in their life."
Don Norcross: (619) 293-1803; don.norcross@uniontrib.com
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; US: California; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: anamericansoldier; backinaction; davidrozelle; disability; iraq; oif; triathlon; usarmy
1
posted on
10/29/2005 7:17:12 AM PDT
by
radar101
To: radar101
Lol.
What a man.
We have so many .... who aren't.
This is not sexist. I think that American men are THE BEST. Army Capt. David Rozelle is one of those many, many of THE BEST.
2
posted on
10/29/2005 7:28:59 AM PDT
by
starfish923
( Socrates: It is never right to do wrong.)
To: radar101
Amazing! And to think that I went on sick call once during
BCT because I was tired. (hanging head in shame)
To: starfish923
This is not sexist. I think that American men are THE BEST. Army Capt. David Rozelle is one of those many, many of THE BEST. There are still many admirable men and women in this country.And there are many worthless individuals as well. The good ones have a tendency to wind up in the military... the worthless ones have a tendency to wind up at Cindy Shehan rallies.
To: Gay State Conservative
Thank you, words well written
5
posted on
10/29/2005 7:45:54 AM PDT
by
Kimmers
To: Gay State Conservative
There are still many admirable men and women in this country.And there are many worthless individuals as well. The good ones have a tendency to wind up in the military... the worthless ones have a tendency to wind up at Cindy Shehan rallies.Yes, very well put.
6
posted on
10/29/2005 7:47:16 AM PDT
by
starfish923
( Socrates: It is never right to do wrong.)
To: radar101
7
posted on
10/29/2005 7:52:44 AM PDT
by
ThePythonicCow
(To err is human; to moo is bovine.)
To: radar101
8
posted on
10/29/2005 8:00:29 AM PDT
by
Colonial Warrior
(You can't tell how good a man or a watermelon is 'til they get thumped. Character shows when tested)
To: Gay State Conservative
One day he came across Sgt. Carla Best. Best, 29, suffered serious leg wounds a year ago in a roadside bomb explosion outside Baghdad. Best grew up in the Blythe farming community. In the summer SHE'd ride her bike 10 miles to school to feed and care for a pet pig. SHE'd swim every day in those hot summer months..................................... Hardly sexist, I'd say
9
posted on
10/29/2005 8:40:20 AM PDT
by
radar101
To: radar101
10
posted on
10/29/2005 8:43:56 AM PDT
by
Rummyfan
To: radar101
11
posted on
10/29/2005 8:44:23 AM PDT
by
cyn
To: radar101
"Agree with the war, disagree with the war, our soldiers need our support," said Bob Babbitt, one of the CAF co-founders. "When somebody's made the great sacrifice, giving a limb for his or her country, the least we can do is make sure there's not a gap in their life.".........................................From COMPETITOR MAGAZINE:......................................................................................................... http://www.competitor.com/story.cfm?story_id=11105&publicationID=205&pageID=4719.......................................................................... Publisher's Note: Dear Muddy Buddies... By BOB BABBITT Okay, you are just a few weeks away from the Muddy Buddy Ride and Run at Bonelli Park in San Dimas on Sunday October 23. For a lot of you, this will be your first-ever Muddy Buddy experience. As someone who wears his really bright green frog full-body outfit not just at Muddy Buddy events around the county but in biker bars as well, I thought I would take this opportunity to give our Muddy Buddy Virgins a little 411 on the ultimate slopfest: ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1) This is not what you would call the most serious of events. The last time I checked, the Muddy Buddy was not on the master schedule for the 2008 Olympics in Bejing. There is absolutely no prize money. Grab a buddy, grab a mountain bike and get muddy. It's as simple as that. At one event, I had a guy come up to me who was bemoaning the fact that he might have lost a little time behind a slower team during the mountain bike. My answer? "Dude, I'm in a frog costume. The event is called Muddy Buddy. If you'd like a medal, I've got one in my pocket." Nuff said? ----------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Cool names are, well, cool. A few of my favorites from the first six events this summer are The Dirty Nurses, The Well Hungarians and the ever popular, I've got mud in my **^% and I need to get it out. 3) Speaking of using your imagination... Costumes and bike decorations are encouraged. We've had Batman and Robin, Fred and Barney and Laurel and Hardy. My personal favorites came straight to our Chicago race after being out all night at their local tavern. They had two plastic trash bags tied around their necks as capes and two paper plates that they cut in half and used as masks. Their name? The Phantoms of the Slopera. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Swim props for the mud pit are becoming very popular. We have seen teams with swim caps and goggles doing water ballet, Jacques Cousteau look alikes with masks and snorkels, plus an assortment of backstrokers wearing arm floaties. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5) Identfiying your bike is a must, so some folks tie ribbons around their bike or come up with other ideas to make it identifiable. In Richmond, there was a team of Vikings with an inflatable gal duct taped to the back of their bike. Surprisingly, they said they had very little trouble finding their bike after conquering each obstacle. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6) We now have a event for kids 12 and under called the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mini Muddy Buddy that goes off as the regular Muddy Buddy is winding down. It is free for the first 200 kids whose parents sign them up on race day and every Mini Muddy Buddy gets a free T- shirt and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle medal as well. We start with the really little Muddy Buddies, and parents are more than welcome to go along with them. In Boulder, we had one little guy who raced the 100-plus yard event in only his shoes and Scooby Doo undies. The kids go through a short obstacle course that includes tires, some 2x4s, a low wall climb and, of course, a journey into the mud pit. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) Are you a big guy and do you have really big friends? Man, do we have an event for you! To qualify for the infamous BEAST Division, you and your buddy need to weigh at least 400 pounds together. And don't even think about faking it. We have scales on stage, and before we give out the BEAST awards each team has to weigh in. Come in at less than 400 combined pounds? You and your used- to-be-fat former friend will be booed off the stage. And don't even think about trying to jam slop from the mud pit into your pockets. We're hip to that manuever. One team concerned about actually being 400 pounds took matters into their own stomachs. They went to Marie Callender's the night before the Muddy Buddy and each ate a full pie. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) Have you been looking forever for an event that you can do with your husband, wife or ex- girlfriend-to-be? I have guys and gals all over the country that swear that the Muddy Buddy has saved their marriage. If you have tried to run or ride with your spouse, the odds on the two of you being able to run or ride the same pace are slim and none. If you've tried to solve that problem with a tandem bikewhat we in the biz call a Divorceakleyou know how well that puppy works. The person in the front is pedaling their butt off and is positive that their significant other is on the back with their feet up on the handlebars. But imagine starting out on the bike and going as hard as you like while the love of your life is running as hard as they want towards that same first obstacle. After you transition from cyclist to runner, your partner will come by you on the bike at some point. "Way to go, honey," is a sure way to create a smile. This continues on for a total of five fun obstacles before you wait for her/him at the mud pit. Keep that smile going as the clock keeps on ticking and teams scurry by. When your partner shows up, grasp their hand, thank them for being your partner and then take your time slithering through the mud pit together. A jog to the finish, followed by a hug, a kiss and a cold shower with 2,000 mud-coated new best friends, and you can tell Dr. Phil and your relationship therapist to take a flying leap. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign up for Muddy Buddy Ride & Run on October 23, go to www.muddybuddy.com. If you happen to see a really large green frog, don't hesitate to stop by and say hi
12
posted on
10/29/2005 9:00:11 AM PDT
by
radar101
To: radar101
Very true.There are,as I said,many fine men *and* women
still to be found in this country.
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