My Last Airborne Jump - Italy 17JUN2009

This was my 22nd jump in the Army and also my last. I made this one with 173rd ABN Battle co. 2/503rd INF on June 17th 2009. With this fall I broke my tib/fib on my left leg and crushed my L1 vertebrae also known as a burst fracture. Six screw in my back and a metal rod in my left leg. Three months of rehab to relearn to walk. Nearly got paralyzed from the waist down. I got lucky with some nerve damage and just pain that never goes away. Now I spend all my time as a casino dealer and trying to go to my va appointments. Army and Va together has me at 60% disability. I hope to appeal it for a higher rating but they denied my last one so far. Some days I want to give up but I can’t. Been a hard few years. It’s now ten years and it hasn’t got better.