Hero Report: B.J. Jackson

In October of 1999, B.J. Jackson of Des Moines, Iowa, enlisted in the National Guard and shortly thereafter underwent Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Lee, Virginia where he learned skills as a supply and small arms specialist. After National Guard training, Jackson returned to Iowa where he worked various roofing, home improvement and landscaping jobs until his Guard Unit received orders for active duty in February of 2003.

In April, after leaving Iowa and spending a month in Wisconsin for additional training, Jackson’s unit headed to Kuwait to await orders for deployment in Iraq. B.J. was selected to be part of a team whose mission was to set up camp and headquarters for the entire unit's arrival in Iraq. His unit was positioned just outside of Baghdad. For the four months, Jackson worked with his unit performing various Military Police duties and engaging in convoy support around Baghdad.

On August 7 th, B.J. was enjoying his first day off from duty in nearly a month and was visiting the commercial district of Baghdad. He was driving a vehicle with two other soldiers riding with him. The vehicle struck a phosphorous land mine, was immediately hit by a rocket propelled grenade and then the three soldiers were besieged by Iraqis firing AK-47s. Several hours lapsed as solders fought off the terrorist attack and worked to extract B.J. from his vehicle and transport him to safety.

B.J. was airlifted to an Iraqi field hospital for immediate care and was then taken to Kuwait and on to Germany for additional treatment. Five days later, he arrived at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas to begin long-term recovery and re-habilitation. Jackson lost both legs below the knee and suffered burns to 60 percent of his body on his hand, arm, head and lower back. Over the first five days, Jackson received 25 units of blood. He spent nearly 50 days in the post burn unit.

Just over three months later, Jackson had recovered enough to begin the process of learning to use his prosthetic legs. Remarkably, by early December, he was skiing on his new legs at a resort in Breckenridge, Colorado. He remains optimistic and urges others to push themselves not to be limited by others.