According to Time magazine, around 2.6 million Americans have been sent to Iraq or Afghanistan on active duty. Of these servicemembers, over 600,000 have been left completely or partially disabled.
From June 18-19, the Defense Department's Warrior Games took place at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia. A total of 270 injured veterans competed in a variety of sports competitions. Who are these brave and determined men and women? Meet a few of the vets who participated in the event.
Redmond Ramos was serving in Afghanistan as a member of the Navy when he stepped on an explosive device and lost his left leg, according to Navy Live. He decided that he was not going to let his disability ruin his love for running and joined the Warrior Games to partake in the track and field events, among others.
Kristen Esget was deployed from the Coast Guard when she was hit by a car. She experienced traumatic brain injuries and severe damage to her right knee. She told Time that tasks like reading and sleeping became incredibly difficult, but after years of strength and perseverance, she swam at the Warrior Games.
Krystoffer L. Bowman was a technical surgeon in the Air Force. He fought through multiple disabilities while serving for over 19 years, focusing his efforts on helping wounded soldiers. His injuries got worse without the proper attention and he now has a range of conditions, including occipital neuralgia, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. His determination and courage continued at the Games during the cycling and volleyball competitions.