When President Barack Obama heads to the Commander-in-Chief’s Ball, one of the two celebrations after his second inauguration, he’ll get to share his first dance with one of America’s bravest civilians. Obama, along with the first lady, vice president and second lady, are all slated to take the dance floor with servicemembers who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, The New York Times reports.
The president’s dance partner will be Air Force Staff Sergeant Bria D. Nelson, who has served in the military since 2002. She was deployed to Afghanistan where she earned the Air Force Commendation Medal. She is still active in the military, serving on Washington’s Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling.
Nelson is not the only soldier who will have the honor of sharing the first dance with the country’s highest elected officials. Army Staff Sgt. Keesha N. Dentino is slated to dance with Vice President Joe Biden, while Gunnery Sergeant Timothy D. Easterling and Petty Officer Patrick Figueroa are paired with Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, respectively.
The four honorees were chosen from a pool of more than 50 servicemembers. Addie Whisenant, a spokeswoman for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, told Military Times that the soldiers were selected based on their combat experience and volunteer efforts.
It may seem unusual to want to return to a war zone after being seriously wounded during combat, but for Army Sgt. Michael Krapels, heading back to Afghanistan was all he had in mind since getting hurt. Now, three years and 20 surgeries later, he is once again serving alongside his fellow soldiers, according to American Forces Press Service.
Krapels’ injury occurred in January 2010, not long after he had arrived in Afghanistan. He was hit by machine gun fire in both his legs that left him with a severed Achilles tendon, among numerous other wounds. Eventually he was flown to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and began the lengthy recovery process. Despite the challenges, he always had his eye on returning to the battlefield.
“There were times when I thought it was going to be impossible,” he told the news source. “I was told I was never going to walk right. I was told I was never going to be able to run or carry weight on my back.”
Krapels is not alone in wanting to return to active duty after becoming seriously injured. In fact, recent technological advances have made it possible for soldiers who have had a leg amputated above the knee to head back to the battlefield.