PARKER COUNTY SHERIFF’ S POSSE
Tragedy TRIUMPH
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Double amputee impacts many with determination
Dana Bowman has astounded the nation and the world with his drive, determination, and will to succeed. He is a retired Sergeant First Class with the U. S. Army where he was a Special Forces Soldier and a member of the U. S. Army’ s elite parachute team, the Golden Knights. Dana Bowman is a double amputee. He lost his legs in an accident during the annual Golden Knights training inYuma, Arizona, in 1994.
On February 6,1994, Bowman gained worldwide attention when he and his teammate Sgt. Jose Aguillon collided in midair during the team’ s annual training.
Aguillon died instantly. Bowman’ s legs were severed from his body, one above the knee and one below the knee.
Nine months later, he turned this tragedy into a triumph when he became the first double amputee to reenlist in the United States Army. This achievement is just one example of Bowman’ s many successes under adverse circumstances. Dana has been fortunate to have the opportunity to let his speeches touch so many from the physically challenged to the able-bodied. He strives to show physically challenged people can still work and excel in today’ s society and military. Dana emphasizes the words amputee and uselessness are not synonymous.
Dana has given more than 400 speeches in the last few years and has been featured in magazines such as Sports Illustrated, Reader’ s Digest, People and many more.
There have also been numerous television programs which focused on Dana and his story. Some of the programs include: Dateline, A Current Affair, Real TV, NBC Person of the Week, Day and Date and Extra.
Dana retired from the United States Army in 1996. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in commercial aviation at the University of North Dakota in 2000.
Dana spends a great deal of his personal time working with other amputees and disabled or physically challenged people. As the founder and President of the HALO for Freedom Warrior Foundation Dana continues his selfless work giving back to the brave men and women that have given so much of themselves for our country. Dana jumps the“ HALO for Freedom Warrior Foundation” Logo in to the many events he addresses annually and tells his audiences about our group and our cause.
The mission of the HALO for Freedom Warrior Foundation is to provide support for wounded warriors as they face the many challenges encountered during their rehabilitation, reintegration and healing process. The foundations goals are to ensure wounded military members are cared for both physically and emotionally. By including wounded members in various Foundation sponsored events we aim to motivate, encourage and afford them opportunities they might not otherwise have had. The foundations focus is to lift their spirits while reminding them that their sacrifices will never be forgotten.
66 PCSP 79TH ANNUAL FRONTIER DAYS