The Wounded Warriors Project in Jacksonville spent the morning preparing for Col.Greg Gadson.
He is a military war hero who miraculously survived a deadly explosion in Iraq and continued to serve for the United States Army. Now retired, he shares his story to help other soldiers and veterans.
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Gadson served 26 years as an Army officer. During a tour in Baghdad, Iraq about 12 years ago, he was severely injured by a roadside bomb, an improvised explosion device (IED), that cost him both of his legs.
He told the local group Friday, he lost nearly 130 pints of blood.
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He defied the odds by going back to work for the Army. He continued to serve eight more years at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Soldiers told Action news Jax it is rare a soldier stays on active duty after such a traumatic experience, much less a base commander.
“We’re really defined by our character, defined by doing our best, taking care of people and focusing on the mission,” Gadson said.
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After retiring, Gadson added film star to his resume. He starred in the movie “Battleship” which featured his two prosthetic legs.
However, the colonel spends most of his time traveling the country to advocate for active-duty soldiers at war and veterans.
Friday, he wanted to remind the public of the active-duty military who are currently serving in the war and the support they will need when they return home.
“When we take our uniform off, our service is not done, either. We have a responsibility to inspire the next generation to serve," Gadson said. "We have a responsibility to remind our communities of the great sacrifice and the responsibility that they have and ensuring that we have generations that will continue to serve.”
“We’re really defined by our character, defined by doing our best. Taking care of people and focusing on the mission.”
— Elizabeth Pace (@PaceAnJax) April 5, 2019
Col. Gadson continued serving in the Army after losing both of his legs in an IED attack. His exclusive interview next on @ActionNewsJax. pic.twitter.com/3jQUff29TR
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