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- Sep 30, 2009
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I had the pleasure of attending a really special event last night, sponsored by a great friend I call "E" (who also happens to be my old boss). E was also kind enough to allow me to bring my son, as the seating was very limited.
We spent the evening in the presence of someone who, in my opinion, is truly a great man. What makes him great is not only his accomplishments and awards, but more so his unrelenting will in the face of the type of adversity that few could endure, much less overcome in the ways that he has. That man's name is Lt. Jason Redman (USN Ret.). Lt. Redman was a Navy SEAL who truly embodies the ethos that makes the SEAL's the most elite special warfare unit in the world.
Lt. Redman suffered horrific wounds when his team was ambushed by insurgents outside Fallujah, Iraq in September of 2007. He was shot in the face by a heavy machinegun (as well as receiving several other wounds) and almost died on the battlefield. Rescued by his team, he would spend the next several years recovering. He endured over 30 surgical procedures, had his jaw re-broken three times, received over 1500 staples and sutures, spent 190 hours under general anesthesia, had his jaw wired shut for 12 weeks and lost over 50 pounds, etc. Through all this immense pain and suffering, he held on to an awe-inspiring positive attitude and posted this sign on his hospital room door...
He spoke for nearly two hours, telling the story of his growth from a cocky 20 year old SEAL into a battle tested leader. His talk was not really about what he did or what happened to him, it was about the true nature of leadership, about overcoming any obstacle in front of you no matter how daunting or impossible it may seem. It was about never, ever stopping.
We were able to chat for quite a bit and I must say it truly was an honor. When he found out my son is interested in following in his footsteps, he spent a good ten minutes talking to him one on one while covering the entire first page of his book with an inspiring dedication (Lt. Redman recently released a book called Trident - The Forging and Re-forging of a Navy SEAL Leader). DJ was in awe.
Lt. Redman also founded a charity called Wounded Wear (http://woundedwear.org/mission) which modifies clothing for service members who have lost limbs or suffered other serious injuries. It is a great cause, founded by a great man.
We spent the evening in the presence of someone who, in my opinion, is truly a great man. What makes him great is not only his accomplishments and awards, but more so his unrelenting will in the face of the type of adversity that few could endure, much less overcome in the ways that he has. That man's name is Lt. Jason Redman (USN Ret.). Lt. Redman was a Navy SEAL who truly embodies the ethos that makes the SEAL's the most elite special warfare unit in the world.
Lt. Redman suffered horrific wounds when his team was ambushed by insurgents outside Fallujah, Iraq in September of 2007. He was shot in the face by a heavy machinegun (as well as receiving several other wounds) and almost died on the battlefield. Rescued by his team, he would spend the next several years recovering. He endured over 30 surgical procedures, had his jaw re-broken three times, received over 1500 staples and sutures, spent 190 hours under general anesthesia, had his jaw wired shut for 12 weeks and lost over 50 pounds, etc. Through all this immense pain and suffering, he held on to an awe-inspiring positive attitude and posted this sign on his hospital room door...
He spoke for nearly two hours, telling the story of his growth from a cocky 20 year old SEAL into a battle tested leader. His talk was not really about what he did or what happened to him, it was about the true nature of leadership, about overcoming any obstacle in front of you no matter how daunting or impossible it may seem. It was about never, ever stopping.
We were able to chat for quite a bit and I must say it truly was an honor. When he found out my son is interested in following in his footsteps, he spent a good ten minutes talking to him one on one while covering the entire first page of his book with an inspiring dedication (Lt. Redman recently released a book called Trident - The Forging and Re-forging of a Navy SEAL Leader). DJ was in awe.
Lt. Redman also founded a charity called Wounded Wear (http://woundedwear.org/mission) which modifies clothing for service members who have lost limbs or suffered other serious injuries. It is a great cause, founded by a great man.
