Losing both his legs led this DC-based veteran to new heights — literally
Neil Duncan was just years old when the Sept attacks occurred Like multiple others it motivated him to join the Army to become a paratrooper He served in Iraq and then Afghanistan In about months into that deployment the motorcycle Duncan was riding in rolled over an improvised explosive device or IED and exploded Duncan who now lives in D C announced he woke up two weeks later at Walter Reed Anatomical Center My jaw was wired shut and my arms were immobilized and my legs were gone he notified WTOP Losing both of his legs did not sour him on military institution or his life outlook In fact Duncan declared his experience in the military is what motivated him to move forward Not giving up staying motivated personal accountability those are all core staples that are ingrained in you in the military and I think those were critical to me pushing forward after I was injured he mentioned Since the injury Duncan has achieved a lot by any standard He has a degree from the University of Denver and a master s from Columbia University He also took up mountain climbing I ve climbed Kilimanjaro twice Denali and Aconcagua he explained Duncan declared he requested to see what he could do while trying to inspire others It shows what can be done not just to myself but to other people that are in similar situations whether they are veterans or not he noted Duncan also continues helping fellow vets telling his story raising money and pushing for regulation on issues affecting veterans He advocated for the Major Richard Star Act which Duncan reported sort of balances this discrepancy in the differentiation between military retirement and VA disability Duncan was also in the last few days matched with Cowboy a arrangement dog from America s VetDogs who assists him with balance retrieval tasks and navigating crowded environments Cowboy also helps him maintain daily routines and reduce stress giving him the confidence to live independently and stay working in his region Source
