Recovering warrior overcomes hurdles, aims at transition
Story and Photos by Maj. Paul Greenberg, USMC--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - When Cpl. Christopher Montgomery was ten years old, he and his father, a retired agent from the U.S. Treasury Department, moved from their home in Corpus Christi, Texas to begin a new life in Ecuador.
Montgomery started fifth grade at a public school in the rural town of Otavalo. He spoke almost no Spanish, but that didn't stop him from adapting and thriving in his new environment.
"I didn't have any choice," he said. "I had to learn Spanish to go to school. Not too many people speak English in Otavalo."
At the age of 19, Montgomery carried this spirit of determination and flexibility with him into the Marine Corps infantry, where he earned meritorious promotions to lance corporal and corporal, and received an award for valor in combat.
Montgomery has recently displayed the true depth of his character at San Antonio Military Medical Center (formerly Brooke Army Medical Center), where he has experienced pain, struggle, perseverance and epiphany in the course of his recovery.
In the past eleven months, Montgomery has learned how to walk on prosthetics limbs, how to drive a truck with adaptive controls and perform other independent functions of daily living after losing both legs and the use of his left hand in an improvised explosive device blast in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in December 2010 while serving as a team leader with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
"I actually enjoy life even more now," said Montgomery. "I get down, don't get me wrong; but I honestly think I'm a happier person now because I appreciate life more than I did before. I don't take things for granted. I don't stress out about a lot of stuff anymore."
Montgomery is one of more than 50 Marine patients assigned full-time to the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Battalion East detachment at SAMMC, which is now a joint base with hundreds of wounded warriors from all branches of service.
Most of the detachment's Marines are severely combat wounded, but the unit's mission statement encompasses the care of all wounded, ill and injured Marines, as well as their family members.
Lt. Col. David Barnes and his small cadre of Marine Corps and civilian staff work around the clock to ensure the care and proper administrative medical processing of their Marines.
Most of his wounded warriors elect to medically retire, according to Barnes, and the recovery to transition process typically takes at least 18 months. This period of time is critical, according to Barnes, in setting the Marines up for success in civilian life, and the key is helping them keep a positive attitude while moving in the right direction.
Many of the Marines here are first-term enlistees, like Montgomery, who have never attended university or had a full-time civilian career. In order to assist the Marines in having a successful transition, the staff here encourage off-duty education at community colleges and universities and coordinate resume-building assistance and job placement.
Several staff members and patients commented on Montgomery's indomitable spirit, and the key role he plays in inspiring other Marines to persevere and work towards a successful transition.
"Corporal Montgomery's attitude has been infectious here; in a good way. He has not let his injuries hold him back. He has truly been a mentor to Marines with less severe injuries," said Gunnery Sgt. Eric Royal, who serves as Montgomery's platoon sergeant at the Marine detachment and works with him closely on a daily basis.
During the course of his eleven months at SAMMC, Montgomery has been busy. He has undergone more than 20 surgeries, attended physical therapy and occupational therapy appointments twice a day, and has learned to use hand controls to drive his pick-up truck. He is also an avid participant in the detachment's Warrior Athlete Reconditioning Program, relearning to swim, using only his arms.
Kara Roth, Montgomery's swim coach and the Aquatics Department director at the Center for the Intrepid rehabilitation facility at SAMMC, is training Montgomery for the possibility of competition on a higher level.
"He has natural talent," said Roth. "He's one of those few bilateral amputees who began adaptive swimming with no flotation device. He jumped right in and went for it. And he works hard. He definitely has potential."
Montgomery stated that his accomplishments have not been easy, nor have they been painless.
In April 2011, he began walking on "stubbies," or small stilts that are fitted on the end of his limbs. Because his right leg is longer than his left, he had a two-inch stilt on his right leg, and a six-inch stilt on his left. After gradually learning to balance on incrementally longer and longer stilts, he progressed to "sea legs," which are computerized prosthetic limbs.
"When you're learning to walk (on prosthetics), you're going to fall; a lot. It's a painful process. And it takes a lot of effort. Just walking twenty feet on my sea legs is exhausting. It's like running three miles at full speed."
Because his electric wheelchair is his primary source of mobility, Montgomery explained that simple tasks which people take for granted are very difficult, such as getting through a doorway or into a building that is not handicapped accessible, taking a shower and going grocery shopping.
The immobility of his left hand presents additional challenges.
"When I want to open a jar of pickles, I tap all the way around the lid to loosen it up. Then I wedge the jar in between my leg and wheelchair," Montgomery demonstrated from his wheelchair, "and then use my right hand to twist off the lid. Eventually, you figure stuff out. It might take me longer to do things than I used to, but I'm independent. That means a lot."
"Independence is important because it brings back normalcy to the Marines," said Royal. "Although their lives will never be the same, to be independent of a (non-medical attendant) gives the Marines more life and a sense of accomplishment, because they can still move throughout their day and get by on their own."
Looking toward the future, Montgomery is on track to medically retire from the Marine Corps later this year. He plans to move east to Mobile, Ala., where he can live close to his father, a Marine Corps veteran who served in the Vietnam War. He will also be near some of his nine siblings and their families.
A charitable veterans organization is currently building Montgomery a 2,700 square foot handicapped-accessible home on an acre of land in Mobile.
To prepare for transition, Montgomery is scheduled to begin taking classes part-time at a local San Antonio college in April, and then enroll full-time at the University of South Alabama in Mobile when he gets home.
Although he is not yet sure of what he is going to study, Montgomery expressed an interest in the medical field and rehabilitative sciences.
"I'm looking forward to going home," Montgomery said. "I believe that I can do a lot of good there."
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Cpl. Christopher Montgomery from the Wounded Warrior Battalion East detachment at San Antonio Military Medical Center takes a break during an hour-long swim session at the Center for the Intrepid here Jan. 19. Montgomery lost both legs and the use of his left hand from an improvised explosive device blast in Afghanistan in December 2010. U.S. Marine Corps photo
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Cpl. Christopher Montgomery, a recovering warrior from Wounded Warrior Battalion East, demonstrates his mastery of adaptive swimming at the Center for the Intrepid here Jan. 19. Montgomery's journey through recovery over the past 13 months has included more than 40 surgeries at several medical facilities. He is currently focused on transitioning to civilian life, where he intends to enroll full-time at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. U.S. Marine Corps photo
SSAN ANTONIO, Texas - Cpl. Christopher Montgomery, a wounded warrior stationed with the Wounded Warrior Battalion East detachment at San Antonio Military Medical Center, participates in adaptive swimming at the Center for the Intrepid here Jan. 19 as part of his overall recovery. Montgomery, 24, was wounded in action in Afghanistan in December 2010, losing both legs and the use of his left hand. U.S. Marine Corps photo
For more information about the Wounded Warrior Regiment go to http://www.woundedwarriorregiment.org/ or fan us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/wwr.usmc. For support, call the 24/7 Sergeant Merlin German Call Center at (877) 487-6299.
CHARITABLE DONATIONS
The Wounded Warrior Regiment's Charitable Giving Office assists the matching of donations to support efforts in compliance with the DoD Gift Acceptance Regulations.
What Type of Donations can be accepted?
•Monetary
•In-Kind
Monetary Donations
Financial donations can be accepted by the Regiment. Individuals or organizations who provide checks should ensure the check is made payable and sent to:
Department of Navy Gift Fund
in Memo line: Wounded Warrior Regiment
3025 John Quick Road
MCB Quantico, VA 22134
C/O: Charitable Donations Coordinator
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In-Kind Donations
In-kind Donations must be made with prior coordination of the Charitable Donations Coordinator, due to the limited storage space at the Regiment and BNs. In-kind services, including hotel rooms, therapeutic services, transportation, etc. can also be offered. Please call (703) 432-2582/2583 for information regarding in-kind needs. We ask you coordinate with the WWR at least two weeks prior to making an in-kind donation.
All gifts to the Regiment or individual Marines require an offer letter. Please use this Donation Form. Also, please be sure to adhere to the DOD Gift Acceptance Regulations.
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What's Needed:
Service members and their families' needs vary from site to site. Below are hospitals where our Marines and Sailors are located. Please visit the websites to see complete lists of hospitals near you.
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda MD
San Antonio Military Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany
Balboa Naval Medical, San Diego CA
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Endorsement Note:
As an active duty United States Marine Corps Regiment, all our requirements are being fully met by our higher headquarters. Nevertheless, we understand the public's desire to help.
If there is something you wish to donate to our Wounded Warriors, please contact our Charitable Donations Coordinator by phone at (703) 432-2582/2583.
Sergeant Merlin German
Wounded Warrior Call Center
24 hours a day - 7 days a week
365 days a year contact:
1-877-4USMCWW or 1-877-487-6299
http://www.woundedwarriorregiment.org/charorgs/CharOrgs_donate.cfm
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