In October of 1999 BJ 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 training Jackson returned to Iowa where he worked various roofing, home improvement, and tree removal 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 to Iraq. BJ 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.

On August 7^th, BJ 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 and had a rear vehicle with 2 others. The vehicle Jackson was driving struck a land mine and the 5 soldiers were besieged by Iraqis firing AK-47’s. A half hour had pasted as the soldiers fought off the terrorist and worked to extract BJ from his vehicle and transport him too safely. The fire fight went on for over 2 hours.

BJ was airlifted to an Iraqi Field hospital for immediate care and was then taken to Kuwait and on to Germany or additional treatment. Five days later he arrived at 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 over 6% 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 legs at a resort in Breckenridge, Colorado. He remains optimistic and urges others to push themselves not to be limited by others. Jackson has now devoted his life to advocating for wounded veterans and motivating those around him. BJ lives in Iowa with his beautiful wife Abagail and their five children.