One Foot at a Time

Nineteen-year-old Pvt. Adam Morris, of Corry, Pa., was in his sixth month of a grueling 15-month infantry tour when his life changed on Aug. 27, 2007. As a driver, Morris routinely did checks before missions. While in the motor pool at the Joint Combat Outpost in Tarmiya, Iraq, located 20 miles northwest of Baghdad, a sniper in the distance dialed in on Morris. A shot rang; he crumpled to the ground. The sniper's bullet hit Morris in the hip and passed through his body, causing nerve damage that would impair his ability to walk. After going to multiple hospitals, he finally made his way back home to his loving family. Awaiting him at the airport were more than 100 supporters and the popular Patriot Guard Riders.

Two years later, 21-year-old Spc. Morris can be found at the Wounded Warrior Battalion gracefully making his way around in his Leg Caddy, where he has one leg tucked under the seat and one leg pushing away. He also has learned the art of hopping around. "This may sound weird, but I have been trying to get my leg literally amputated for like nine months. I don't think people can comprehend unless they're in my position," Morris said. "I don't even know what it feels like to put one leg in front of the other and take a step."

Even though his injury has changed his life, Morris constantly looks to his warrior ethos to make the best of his situation. "An injury is not necessarily something taken away; it is a learning tool showing you how to do something different," he said. He recently returned from a trip to New Hampshire's Loon Mountain where he participated in U.S. Paralympics Camp. There he tried different sports and pushed himself to adapt and achieve. He did all of this successfully.

During the interview, Morris showed me the new stair ramp system just put in at the WTB. Both ramps cost just over $100,000 including installation and labor. It took three months to make the lifts and three weeks to install them. Saybor was the general contractor, and Vertical Transportation Service and Thompson Electronics were the subcontractors. Morris proudly showed step by step how it worked.

Morris recalled requesting a ramp. "One day I noticed workers putting it in," he said. He demonstrated the timing difference. Since he has learned to hop quickly, he can get up the stairs fast, but he admits the chair is the safest way. The system comes with an emergency cart that is conveniently close to the ramp. Just like a soldier demonstrating his knowledge of his equipment, Morris pulled out the cart and showed how it works.

Morris is in the last phase of his medical process and is awaiting his percentage. He looks ahead and not backward; he knows everything will work out. The Wounded Warrior