Decorated Iraq War Vet Speaks at St. Ambrose University
Bryan Anderson is an Iraq War Veteran and triple amputee. He spoke Wednesday at Eastern Iowa/Western Illinois Veteran's Conference at the Rogalski Center. He visited in studio with us.
Here's a quick biography on Bryan:
Bryan Anderson was born in Arlington Heights, Ill., and raised in Rolling Meadows, Ill., about 20 miles north of Chicago. His parents are Jim & Janet, he has an identical twin brother, Bob, and a sister, Briana.
Bryan attended Rolling Meadows High School, where he and Bob competed in gymnastics through all four years of high school. After graduating in 1999, Bryan worked for three years for American Airlines before enlisting in the United States Army in the spring of 2001. The day Bryan shipped out to Army Basic training was Sept. 11, 2001.
Bryan served two tours in Iraq. The first was relatively uneventful, but he could tell right away the second tour was a more dangerous situation. After experiencing a few close calls involving explosives, his Humvee was destroyed by an Improved Explosive Device on Oct. 23, 2005, resulting in the loss of both of his legs and his left hand. Now, Bryan says he knows that this was just one of life's experiences.
Today, Bryan is retired from military service and he is the spokesperson for Quantum Rehab, a division of Pride Mobility Products. It's a role that suits Bryan well, allowing me to travel the country and meet new people, something he really enjoys.
Looking toward the future, Bryan is pursuing a career in film, with an interest in acting and stunt work. He also wants to continue to grow with Quantum Rehab, and to work to ensure that all of the men and women who serve in United States military receive the proper recognition.
Bryan's website is AndersonActive.com.
Check out Bryan's book, "No Turning Back" it's available on Amazon.
An exceptional memoir about one man's truly inspirational outlook on living, no matter the odds.
Before you dig into this book, there are a few things I think you should know. First, I was a soldier, and I still talk like one-in other words, I swear. So, if bad words bother you, just squint and pretend you don't see them.
I want you to know this book is not about the war in Iraq, and I'm not pushing a political agenda. Even though I'm going to tell you about the day I was wounded and what I went through during rehab, this book's not just some war memoir or a pity party. I just want to share some of my stories with you. This book is not about being wounded. It's not about struggling.
This book is about living. It's about life.
In this inspiring memoir, Bryan shares his infectious love for life that touches anyone who's faced hardship. No Turning Back is a testament to pure hard work, perseverance, and hope for a better life- no matter what shape it takes.
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