Travis Mills

The ringing in your ears, seeing stars, the pain, and worst of all, not knowing if you'll ever see your wife and baby daughter again. These are the tragic experiences that Travis Mills had to go through. He was saved from almost certain death, but he lost all of his arms and legs. In the years that followed, he went to rehab. He could have easily given up and stopped trying, but he didn't, and even in his darkest hour he persevered, impacting the lives of many and teaching valuable lessons. For these reasons, Travis Mills is a true hero.

Travis Mills overcame many challenges and hardships in his life. The Army is a force that many people value and respect. When you think of the Army you probably think of shooting or tanks. Those things are definitely there, but one weapon that takes many lives are IEDs, or "Improvised Explosive Devises." They are bombs that enemies alter and put under the ground so that when someone steps on the pressure plate, the deadly device detonates. SSG Travis Mills has survived and conquered an IED explosion that left him with no arms or legs. One Tuesday in April, SSG Travis Mills was on patrol with his men when he accidentally set his backpack on an IED pressure plate. The explosion could have easily ended him, but a quick working medic stopped the blood flow from his arms and legs before he lost too much blood. Unfortunately, his arms and legs couldn't be saved. He is now one of the five quadruple amputees to survive his injuries. He is in rehab, which can be very challenging and frustrating. He is working with two prosthetic legs and two prosthetic arms now, but the fight is not over yet; many extreme challenges still face him. For example, he will never be able to hold his baby daughter in his real arms again. Furthermore, he may not ever be able to walk quite the same. Travis is still undergoing many struggles, but he never gives up. Travis Mills is a fighter.

Travis Mills has impacted people's' lives in positive ways. For example, he makes others feel thankful for what they have. Additionally, he has achieved enough in his recovery to start working with four prosthetic limbs. One thing that is greatly amazing is that even though he is in the hospital, all he can think about is being at the base to greet his troops when they come home. This shows how he is totally selfless. Furthermore, Travis focuses on a positive attitude. He said one day while being interviewed, "There's no reason to sit here and look out the window and feel sorry for myself. It happened. I can't change the fact that it happened. I can't turn time back." He is so honorable in the way he accepts reality and doesn't feel sorry for himself. The fact that he never gives up and never feels sorry for himself is priceless. He has a huge impact on so many people through his honor, positive outlook, selflessness, and courage. When people hear Travis Mills' story, they will be inspired.

SSG Travis Mills' life and actions have taught us very valuable lessons. Travis has amazed the world with his persistence, dedication, courage, and selflessness. He is persistent because he doesn't give up during his physical therapy, even when it gets really hard. Furthermore, he is dedicated to his troops and his training so much that he has one hope - to be standing on the runway when his troops come home. Travis is also selfless. For example, even though he was severely injured in an explosion, he still focuses on making sure his troops will arrive home safe. One interview highlights how selfless Travis is. In the interview, he recalled speaking to a medic right after the explosion, yelling, "Get away from me. Leave me alone and go help my guys." It's amazing how much he cared about them above his own health. His life is a valuable lesson of courage and selflessness that everyone should know.

SSG Travis Mills has had his arms and legs blown off, but he only faced it as another battle to be won, and win he did. With four prosthetic limbs, he still faces every day with a positive attitude. He doesn't feel bad about his situation; he even said, "I just had a bad day at work." Now that is positivity in the full. Many are inspired by his dedication. His wife referred to him as "Superman." You don't have to raise millions of dollars for charity or save people from a burning building to be a hero; sometimes it's the small, personal things that inspire people the most. Travis Mills has inspired the world.