ASHOQEH, Afghanistan (AP) — When a bomb exploded under Dan Luckett’s Army Humvee in Iraq two years ago — blowing off one of his legs and part of his foot — the first thing he thought was: “That’s it. You’re done. No more Army for you.”
But two years later, the 27-year-old Norcross, Georgia, native is back on duty — a double-amputee fighting on the front lines of America’s Afghan surge in one of the most dangerous parts of this volatile country.
Luckett’s remarkable recovery can be attributed in part to dogged self-determination. But technological advances have been crucial: Artificial limbs today are so effective, some war-wounded like Luckett are not only able to do intensive sports like snow skiing, they can return to active duty as fully operational soldiers. The Pentagon says 41 American amputee veterans are now serving in combat zones worldwide.
Luckett was a young platoon leader on his first tour in Iraq when an explosively formed penetrator — a bomb that hurls an armor-piercing lump of molten copper — ripped through his vehicle on a Baghdad street on Mother’s Day 2008.
His Humvee cabin instantly filled with heavy gray smoke and the smell of burning diesel and molten metal. Luckett felt an excruciating pain and a “liquid” — his blood — pouring out of his legs. He looked down and saw a shocking site: his own left foot sheered off above the ankle and his right boot a bloody mangle of flesh and dust.
Still conscious, he took deep breaths and made a deliberate effort to calm down.
A voice rang out over the radio — his squad leader checking in.
“1-6, is everybody all right?” the soldier asked, referring to Luckett’s call-sign.
“Negative,” Luckett responded. “My feet are gone.”
He was evacuated by helicopter to a Baghdad emergency room, flown to Germany, and six days after the blast, he was back in the U.S.
As his plane touched down at Andrew’s Air Force Base, he made a determined decision. He was going to rejoin the 101st Airborne Division any way he could.
For the first month at Washington’s Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Luckett was bound to a wheelchair. He hated the dependence that came with it, the way people changed their voice when they spoke to him — soft and sympathetic.
He wondered: how long is THIS going to last? Will I be dependent on others for the rest of my life?
At night, he dreamed of walking on two legs.
When he woke, only the stump of his left leg was there, painfully tender and swollen.
His family wanted to know, is this going to be the same Dan?
He assured them he was.
Luckett was fortunate in one sense. His wounds had been caused not by shrapnel, but the projectile itself, which made a relatively clean cut. That meant no complications — no joint or nerve damage or bone fractures.
His right foot was sheered across his metatarsals, the five long bones before the toes. Doctors fitted it with a removable carbon fiber plate that runs under the foot and fills the space where toes should be with hardened foam.
His left leg was a far bigger challenge.
In early July, Luckett strapped into a harness, leaned on a set of parallel bars, and tried out his first prosthetic leg.
It felt awkward, but he was able to balance and walk.
The next day, Luckett tried the leg on crutches — and tried to walk out the door.
“They were like, ‘You gotta’ give the leg back,’” Luckett said of his therapists. After a brief argument, they grudgingly gave in. “They said, ‘If you’re gonna be that hard-headed about it, do it smart, don’t wear it all the time.’”
By February 2009, he had progressed so far, he could run a mile in eight minutes.
He rejoined his unit at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and told his battalion commander he wanted to return to duty “only if I could be an asset, not a liability,” he recalled.
Months later, he passed a physical fitness test to attain the Expert Infantryman’s Badge. It required running 12 miles (19 kilometers) in under three hours with a 35-pound (16-kilogram) backpack. It was a crucial moment, Luckett said, “because I knew if I can get this badge, then there‘s nothing they can say that I’m not capable of doing.”
The Army agreed, and promoted him to captain.
In May, he deployed to Afghanistan.
On his first patrol, wearing 50 pounds (23 kilograms) of gear and body armor, Luckett slipped and fell down. But when he looked around, everybody else was falling, too.
The region around his outpost at Ashoqeh, just west of the provincial capital of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan, is surrounded by irrigation trenches and 4-foot (1.2-meter) high mud walls that grapes grow over. Troops must traverse the treacherous terrain to avoid bombs on footpaths.
Capt. Brant Auge, Luckett’s 30-year-old company commander, said Luckett was as capable as every soldier in his company, and treated no different.
“He’s a soldier who just happens to be missing a leg,” said Auge, who is from Ocean Springs, Mississippi. “He tries to play it down as much as possible, he doesn’t like to bring a lot of attention to it.”
On one of those early patrols, Luckett took to a knee and his pants leg rode up a little bit, revealing the prosthetic limb to a shocked group of Afghan soldiers nearby, Auge said. One gave him the nickname, the “One-legged Warrior of Ashoqeh.”
Beside his cramped bunk-bed, the 185-pound (84-kilogram), 5-foot-11 (1.80-meter) Luckett keeps prosthetic legs for different tasks, each with a carbon fiber socket that attaches to his thigh.
One is fitted with a tennis shoe for running, another a boot. One, made of aluminum so it won’t rust, has a waterproof black Croc for showering. The most important leg though, he saves for patrols. It is made with a high-tech axle that allows him to move smoothly over uneven terrain. His squad leader painted its toenails purple.
Luckett’s prothesis is often a source of good humor — most often generated by Luckett himself.
Some joke of his advantage of having little to lose if he steps on a mine. “That’s always a big one,” he said, “but the reality is, you don’t want to step on an IED (bomb) because you enjoy living and you want stay living. The fear is no different than any other soldier.”
Before heading to Afghanistan, Auge said Luckett had an as yet untried “master plan” to upset the insurgents.
Troops would have Luckett step on a mine and blow his fake leg off. He’d then look up at the trigger man while whipping a replacement leg over his shoulder and slipping it on.
“Then he would flip them off,” Auge said, “and keep on walking.”
___
Associated Press Writer Anne Gearan in Washington contributed to this report.
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Comments (52)
DrammyCoke
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 10:35amGod bless these war heroes!!! We need great men like these to stand the line and to serve violence to our enemies!!!!
Report Post »carol m
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 10:33amThis soldier should come home to a heros welcome. So what does he get instead, because of the POTUS POS in office he gets told that if he shoots and afgan he could be brought up on criminal charges. I will bet this soldier is so disappointed at what his Army turned into since he came back and still he goes back. GOD Bless him and all soldiers and their families for raising such kids. Obama you could not hold a candle to this kid and you should be ashmed of yourself.
Report Post »baldwin4freedom
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 10:24amThis is exactly what individuals should strive for. This is individual exceptionalism.
Report Post »VM
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 10:07amThis is an eye opener for the members of Congress and all politicians who work for them only. This 27 year old is an AMERICAN HERO indeed. I wish we had people with this kind of dedication and honesty in Washington DC.
Report Post »belleharbor
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 9:52amObama needs to sit down with this hero and get and idea of what makes us Americans ,he seems to think of organizing take from rich and redistribute to his pocket first when he sees America just my feelings and he gets his to shove down our throat 24/7.now don’t call me racist because most demos in office are listen to John Karry mister ahe-hole himself VOTE NOV 2010 lets stop the madness
Report Post »quicker
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 9:56amyou know thats not going to happen he`ll just think he acted supidly
Report Post »jeffyfreezone
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 9:08amMay God bless and keep this young man. What an inspiration!
Report Post »Grandfather Z
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 9:00amIn true fashion, the word courage comes to my mind. This man is to be commended for his warrior attitude and thanked at the same time. In my days this type of injury got you just what it got me, an assignment to the disabled roster and sent home with a fat pension with pain and suffering for the rest of my natural life. I was never a quitter either, just limited to the options afforded with the end results. Got to love and respect the warriors of today, they truly show as an example for the rest of the civilians they protect what the words, honor, duty, God, courage and country mean. Outstanding trooper, from an old devil dog in the heartland. .
Report Post »marinemom48223
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 2:02pmGrandfather Z .. thank you for your service … and thanks to this brave soldier and all the other Troops who risk life and limb every day …. YOU will never be forgotten.
Report Post »pavnvet
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 8:54amMy prayers are with this warrior and American hero. It shows that freedom in never free. Vaya con Dios.
Report Post »deadman
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 8:44amGod bless this hero, this is what this country is made up of HERO’S. for men like him we would not have our the freedom we enjoy and whats funny there are 10′s of thounsands of these vets. that at a drop of a hat would be there to protect this USA.
Report Post »quicker
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 8:53amamen to that ,god has a specel place for heros like this
Report Post »Judy
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 8:31amThis young man gives new meaning to the words Man and Hero !! How proud we all are of you. Isn’t it wonderful to know we have young men and women like this fighting to keep us safe and free. Too bad we don’t have more like them. God Bless them all. We love you dearly. More important God loves you more. Wake up America, don’t let the government we have now destroy this wonderful country of ours. Let us at home stand up and fight and regain our constitution and become heroes here at home for this great hero who is putting his life on the line daily for us.
Report Post »diablosho
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 7:39amMan, I love stories like this. Shows the best America has to offer! I wish there were more heroic stories like this! And yet, when he comes home (along with other traumatized soldiers who may be REALLY looking for something more in their lives), they don’t want to allow them to attend a Christian Rock Concert. That would just be wrong! Great way to show their appreciation huh! Geez.
Report Post »hiramsmaxim
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 8:39amYup ! +1
Report Post »STUPID WINDTURBINE
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 7:34am8 MINUTE MILE!!! Most of the people reading this can’t even run a mile under 10 and they have fully funtional legs.
Report Post »Lesterp
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 10:05amI was calculating that myself. My wife and I run on the treadmill every day, we do 3 miles in 30 minutes and it beats the heck out of us. This young man is whipping the tar out of us on a prosthetic!
Report Post »bubbie
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 7:11amMay God bless this brave soldier and ALL of the soldiers who are fighting for our freedom and safety here in America. He has given alot for our country! I must confess that I haven’t voted in years but this year I have finally opened my eyes. I got a few of my friends to register to vote and we are all going to vote in this Novembers election! I didn”t vote for obama or anybody elce but this year and the future will be different. If this brave young man can do this much for America then we can all do our part an go out and vote! 2012 is coming and obama has got to go! That is if he doesn’t ruin OUR COUNTRY before then. GOD PROTECT OUR TROORS!
Report Post »Judy
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 8:32amGood for you Bubbie !!
Report Post »marinemom48223
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 1:59pmHey Bubbie … as the mom of a Marine … I’m PROUD OF YOU… to you and your friends … here’s one of my famous Marine Mom Hugs ….
Report Post »wodiej
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 7:08amGod Bless You sir…you are a true Patriot and a brave one. No self pity here. Listen up pansy liberal whiners who don’t really have anything to complain about but gas mileage on our vehicles and light bulbs.
Report Post »quicker
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 6:21amwe ol these brave men &wemon more than we can ever repay god bless them all
Report Post »burnteye86
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 6:05amBravery
Report Post »hanovertea
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 5:12amWe owe it to this brave soldier NOT to take our freedoms for granted. Go out and vote in Nov., and pray for our country and its heros.
Report Post »tweigel
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 4:25amGod bless you soldier!!!! Hooooaaahhhhhh!!!!!
Report Post »Red Neckerson
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 2:57amA True Patriot, men with character like this are what made this nation free. It is truly a shame for them to have a commander in chief who does not believe that America was and IS a Christian nation. Men like this are what still makes me proud to be a veteran of the US armed forces. Personally I think prior USA military service should be required before being allowed to become commander in chief.
Thank God that there are still brave men in uniform that are willing to die for this country so we can enjoy the freedom of what is left of the US Constitution.
Report Post »diesel71dan
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 2:37amThat is the definition of harcore!!! God Bless him!!
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 2:35amHooah soldier stick that foot up a talibans ass hard for me God bless you and stay safe
Report Post »Venom
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 2:17amHooah!
Report Post »grnhrn
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 2:17amGod bless this man as he is a true hero. I hope his legend grows larger than life. Hey san fran nan, here is your real american that I would condone to testify in front of congress too bad no one in congress is worth cleaning the dirt from his prostectic foot to me he is worth 5,000 or more of them
Report Post »Rev. WC
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 7:52amAmen Brother!
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 9:44amAmen some more!
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 2:15amI am so in awe of this young man. To me, that is a true hero and patriot. As a mother of a marine that fought in desert-storm I can only imagine the pride of his family. At first I was crying for his loss but that changed to tears at the beauty of such an incredible determination to overcome diversity that many of us would not be capable of. God bless . As I do every night I will pray for our military men and women who believe in their mission regardless of the danger, and continue to sacrifice their lives to uphold our freedom. I pray their sacrifices will not be in vain.
Report Post »bulldawg
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 10:12amYour exactly right, this young man is the true meaning of an American, he has been thru hell and back but is willing to continue to do what no one and I mean no one in Washington is willing to do. Our so called representatives continue to defund the military while spending more money on ridiculous pork such as an airport that no one uses all the way to spending dollars to see what cocaine does to monkeys. November 2nd in the year of our lord 2010, let us who believe in the country change the path back to freedom for the next generation.
AzDebi
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 3:31pmAmen…well said!
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 2:13amtommy toughnuts–good for him. keep on fighting. someone has to..
Report Post »Aither
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 3:38amA true Hero right here. More people need to look at those who do what’s right like this Soldier. Sometimes we need to take a look at the good and not just the bad.
Report Post »cheezwizshabaz
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 7:46amAmazing, you are my hero. All of the soldiers and heros. Thank you!
Report Post »Awakened One
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 9:30amWhat an amazing role model. Cudos to the army for letting him prove himself. He’s an inspiration to anyone with a functioning brain.
Report Post »plunderpower
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 8:48pmI saw a young man with two full leg prosthetics at the Monterey Historic Car races in CA. He was walking around, was wearing shorts, and had a beautiful girlfriend by his side. As he passed me, he smiled back, and I said, Army?” He proudly said, “Marine.” Semper Fi, Semper Fine. This generation is showing people how it’s done, and done right.
Report Post »BeckFan1941
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 9:09pmThis is what I call American excepsionalism. (SP) but I can say it. We are an extordinary people and this young man is top of the list. My tears are because I love his heart and example for all of us. No excuses. For those who don’t get out and find a job and think someone owes them something needs to read this story. Thank you Dan. You are proving what best there is in our great country. Come home safe.
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