Staff Sgt. Heath Calhoun earned respect for the U.S. military at a young age. His father served in Vietnam and his grandfather in World War II. In 1999, Heath decided to carry on their dedication to the military and service to the country by enlisting in the U.S. Army. He completed his infantry training in Fort Benning, Georgia and was deployed to Iraq where he was assigned as a Squad Leader for the famed 101st Airborne Division.
It was there, in 2003, that his convoy was hit by a rocket propelled grenade. “I was at the rear corner of the Humvee when the grenade hit the tail light right beside my right leg,” he said. “I was lying on my side. I could see my legs were really messed up.” Heath yelled to the driver of the vehicle to call the incident in to headquarters. “I laid my head back down and that’s all I remember.”
The injuries he sustained ultimately resulted in the loss of both legs above the knees. Another soldier was killed in the attack. Heath wears a bracelet etched with the soldiers name and date of the attack on his right wrist in honor of his service.
After nine months of rehabilitation at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC, Heath struggled with his prosthetic legs. He tried several different components including a pair of computerized knees but none were comfortable or practical and he always needed canes to walk. After two years, he resigned himself to the fact that he would never be a full-time prosthetic user and would always use a wheelchair. But Heath is not a guy that stands still (just ask anyone who has ever met him) and he found ways to put his energies into other pursuits.
Providing encouragement and counseling for other amputees became a serious interest for Heath. During his rehab at Walter Reed, he became acquainted with the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), a national organization dedicated to raising public awareness and aid for severely injured service members. The shared experiences of the group’s members proved to be invaluable to him during his recovery and later he wanted to so the same for others. So he began talking about his own successes, struggles and the unique challenges that amputees face daily. Eventually, the group asked him to be a national spokesperson and now he speaks to, and counsels the newly injured around the country. He also became an Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) certified peer visitor. Through this organization he makes himself available to others who have lost limbs and provides emotional and informational support to them.
Just five months after he was injured Heath attended a Winter Sports Clinic in Aspen, Colorado where he attempted skiing for the first time. At the conclusion of the event Heath was awarded the Challenge Aspen Inspiration Award not just for his athleticism, but for the person “who best embodied the spirit of inspiration on and off the snow.” His passion for snow skiing continues today as he trains for a slot on the U.S. Paralympic Ski Team to hopefully once again represent the U.S. in the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games
Some of his advocacy efforts gained recognition nationally. His most notable accomplishment was helping to get the “Wounded Warrior Bill” passed through Congress in 2005. Known as “traumatic injury protection,” the legislation financially assists wounded soldiers and their families during the months, and sometimes years, of grueling rehabilitation.
In the spring of 2005, Heath participated in the Soldier Ride National Tour, an event that raised awareness and money to aid in the rehabilitation of injured service members returning home from conflicts abroad. He successfully completed the 4,200-mile cross-country bike ride utilizing a hand-cycle. The ride and Heath’s amazing endeavor is documented in the Showtime Original Production "Home Front".
But even with all of his counseling and advocacy activities and his successes in sports, Heath still felt limited by the wheelchair. In June 2006, a fellow wounded soldier suggested he attend a workshop for bilateral above-the-knee amputees, presented by Hanger patients and clinicians at the National ACA Conference in Minneapolis. At the workshop, Heath watched in awe as patients demonstrated negotiating stairs, ramps, even driving a car. “I was astounded to see what these people were doing. It was almost as if they could function like a person with two natural legs.” Right there, Heath decided to give prosthetics another try. He had no idea that the decision would change his life forever.
After training in short prosthetic legs for several weeks, he was fitted with Hanger ComfortFlex™ Sockets and computerized knees. Just days after being fit, he was up and walking independently, without using canes or crutches. Heath has not used a wheelchair since July 5, 2006.
His new legs gave him the ability to try all sorts of new sports and activities that he never thought would be possible again. “My prosthetic legs give me the option to do things on my own. To go out by myself, be spontaneous and more independent. If I want to take my son Mason to the driving range and hit a bucket of balls, or carry my two daughters around the house, I can just do it. Just knowing that is the best thing.”
In May 2007, Heath was honored by the Wounded Warrior Project at their annual fundraising gala held in New York City. He was awarded the George C. Lang Award for Courage in honor of the achievements he has made since his injury.
Heath competed in the Endeavor Games for People with Physical Disabilities in Edmond, Oklahoma. At the event, Heath ran in the 100 and 200 meter sprint races. This was the first time he had competed in an official track meet. He took the Silver Medal in both events.
But for Heath, the real winning moment came 
after the 100-meter race. Heath, his wife Tiffany and son Mason were walking together to the start line to prepare for the 200-meter race. His son stopped for a moment and said, “Hey dad, will you run with me?” Without a second thought Heath responded, “Sure son, let's run to that second tree and back.” They took off like a shot. What an amazing moment to once again be a dad not limited by the injuries he sustained in Iraq.
Heath continues to push the envelope. Not only does he drive a car without hand controls, but owns and drives a car with a manual transmission, using his right prosthetic leg to safely go between the gas and brake pedals and the left leg to operate the clutch. “Being able to drive any vehicle is something I never thought I would ever be able to do. After I was injured, I was told I would have to use special hand controls to drive. I am glad to say that is not the case at all. Hopefully others with similar injuries will see some of the things I am doing and know it is possible for them as well.”
Currently Heath’s main focus is to become a more proficient ski racer. Heath is a certified mono-ski instructor and is the team captain of the USOC Veterans Paralympic Performance Program (VP3) Alpine Skiing program at Challenge Aspen in Colorado. His goal is to earn a spot on the U.S. Paralympic Ski team and compete in the winter games in 2010. “Nothing would make me more proud than to be able to represent the United States at a world class competition and hopefully bring home a gold medal for our country,” says Calhoun.
Heath continues to dedicate time to meeting with other wounded service members at Walter Reed and other military hospitals to deliver the message of hope and courage that he lives everyday.
Heath Calhoun currently lives in Clarksville, TN with his wife Tiffany and their three children, Mason, Brystal and Bailee.
For more information about Heath you can visit his website at www.heathcalhoun.com.
For more information about the Wounded Warrior Project, visit their website at www.woundedwarriorproject.org