Wounded Troops Challenge Obstacle Course
(September 17, 2010) |
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| WEST POINT, N.Y., Sept. 14, 2010 – They run road races and
compete in triathlons. They climb mountains, kayak through
rapids and ski on snow and water.
They are America's wounded warriors -- veterans who continue
to inspire by their resilience and will to overcome any
obstacle placed before them.
Six Army soldiers and one Marine from Walter Reed Army
Medical Center in Washington, D.C., visited the U.S.
Military Academy here Sept. 10 to test their abilities on a
challenging set of obstacles.
The indoor obstacle course test is a rite of passage for all
West Point cadets as a testament to their physical
fortitude. Being able to make it through this intense test
of balance, strength and stamina is hard enough, given
months of practice and training. But for the wounded
warriors, with only hours of preparation, the test was an
inspirational example of the Warrior Ethos and human
perseverance, said Army Col. Gregory L. Daniels, the chief
of the academy's physical education department. |
Marine Corps Lance Cpl.
Joshua Wege and Army Pvt. Harrison Ruzicka race
past a cheering Corps of Cadets crowd as they
make their way through the indoor obstacle
course test at Arvin Gymnasium at the U.S.
Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., Sept. 10,
2010. U.S. Army photo by John Pellino |
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“These outstanding soldiers are a testament to the amazing power of the human
spirit,” Daniels said of the wounded warriors. “They make no excuses for their
so-called disabilities, and they drive on with an indomitable grit that is truly
remarkable. Every single cadet should take notice and emulate their invincible
spirit.”
For that reason, Daniels made sure cadets were present for this event. Hayes
Gymnasium roared with the encouraging cheers of cadets as the wounded warriors
moved through the timed course.
“I wanted the cadets to cheer them on with all their might and to be inspired by
what they observed,” Daniels said. “These soldiers demonstrated the Warrior
Ethos in a very unique and powerful way. I wanted as many cadets as possible to
see first-hand the type of young person they will eventually have the immense
responsibility and awesome privilege to lead.”
Cadets lined up to congratulate and speak with the group after the test. Cadet
Brittany O'Connell said she left with a lump in her throat from what she'd
witnessed.
“It made me realize that even with things as hectic as they are here, your
problems may not be as big as you think they are,” she said. “It was truly
amazing.”
When Daniels told the cadets to remember this event the next time they
complained about something being too hard, Cadet Tom Snukis took it to heart.
“It was definitely inspiring, because you see cadets struggle through this every
day,” said Snukis, who will take the course for score in October. “Then to come
out here and see soldiers missing arms and legs, and they destroyed the
[course]. ‘Inspiring' is definitely the word.”
As the sole Marine and only double amputee in the group, Lance Cpl. Joshua Wege
said he had even more to prove than his colleagues. He was not expecting such a
large audience, he said, but it fueled his performance with an added dose of
adrenaline.
“The entire bleachers were filled, and just the sound reverberating off the
walls was cool,” Wege said. “I've never had crowds cheer me before. I was
nervous at the starting line, which I don't get very often, but with everyone
watching and the blood pumping, I wanted to do the best I could.”
Army Spc. Matthew Kinsey said the group of wounded warriors is pretty
close-knit, and it was evident in the way, as professional soldiers, they
supported each other. They'd been practicing for a few weeks on a smaller course
at Walter Reed, Kinsey said, but the West Point course was exhausting.
“At half-speed, the individual obstacles are not bad, but when you go through
everything at once, that's a challenge,” Kinsey said.
Along with Wege and Kinsey, Army Sgt. Robert Brown, Army Pvt. Harrison Ruzicka,
Army Spc. Joshua Rector, Army Spc. Nicholas Edinger and Army Sgt. Shane Baldwin
also participated. | |
By
Mike Strasser, U.S. Military Academy
American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2010
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