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From
The Tennessean:
Staff Sgt. Heath Calhoun (pictured) lost his legs during an explosion in 2003 and spent a year recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. But when it came time to go home, Calhoun wasn't quite ready.
During rehabilitation, he was surrounded by people who looked like him — amputees and other wounded soldiers. He felt at ease.
But returning to Clarksville, to a home with no ramps, no elevators, no special access was a real test for the Army squad leader with the 101st Airborne Division.
"That's when I realized I was disabled and life had changed," Calhoun said. "It was tough. I had a mental collapse for a bit. At Walter Reed I was secluded and safe around other amputees. I felt comfortable.''
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Calhoun, 31, decided he was going to fight for normalcy. He worked harder, wanting to make life better. His message to the severely wounded soldiers coming home is to take advantage of all the programs geared to help them.
"Get back out there and try as many as you can," Calhoun said. "I tell the wounded veterans to get involved. These programs will help depending on how much a veteran will allow."
After Calhoun was able to walk, drive and run with the prosthetics, it changed his mindset about his injuries. He started skiing, a sport he hadn't tried since high school in Virginia. He started feeling athletic, competitive. He was on the U.S. 2010 Paralympic Ski Team.
Recently, Calhoun ran in Nashville's portion of the Gumpathon, a two-month, 3,530 journey across the nation to raise money for injured service men and women.
He has found his strength and his voice in advocating for others.
He pushed for the 2005 passage of legislation, known as traumatic injury protection, that financially helps wounded soldiers and their families during rehabilitation.
"If I can advocate for wounded veterans, it's something I am glad to do when I am able to do it," Calhoun said.
