This past weekend, moviegoers had the opportunity to see the likes of Liam Neeson and Taylor Kitsch playing servicemembers in the action-packed film "Battleship." Audience members who see the film will also be watching someone who has experienced the battlefield in real life. Injured Iraq vet Greg Gadson made his on-screen debut in the film, USA Today reports.
The 24-year-old veteran was seriously wounded in 2007 when his vehicle passed a roadside bomb in Iraq. After grueling rehabilitation, he was able to walk with the aid of prosthetic legs, and is now the director of the Army's Wounded Warrior program.
In addition to landing a role in a summer blockbuster, Gadson has also been tapped as a motivational speaker, even talking to the New York Giants before they won the 2008 Super Bowl. Given his personal story, "Battleship" director Pete Berg thought he was a perfect fit.
"I know it's clichéd, but this guy is a walking example of positive energy," Berg told the publication. "He has no sense of self-pity. You wouldn't believe the energy he brought to the set."
Gadson's debut comes several months after "Act of Valor" made headlines when it hit theaters. The action movie starred a number of active duty Navy SEALs.