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    I will never quit

    I will never quit

    Photo By Sgt. James Hale | Chief Warrant Officer 2 Tawan A. Williamson Sr., human resource technician for 6th...... read more read more

    JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, UNITED STATES

    10.04.2012

    Story by Sgt. James Hale 

    28th Public Affairs Detachment

    JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – He had a huge smile on his face, unlike most soldiers walking into the gym. As he entered the free-weight area, there was a bounce in his step even though the sun still hadn't come up. He was very soft spoken with a deep voice nevertheless he didn't seem to be shy at all.

    Chief Warrant Officer 2 Tawan A. Williamson Sr. is a human resource technician for the 6th Military Police Group, Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and a continuation on active duty (COAD) Soldier. A COAD Soldier is one who has suffered a disability, such as an amputation, but can still fulfill their military requirements.

    Williamson said that he has dealt with a lot of doubtful people during his military career. Some doubted his mental abilities when he first joined the military, while others doubted his physical abilities after losing the lower half of his left leg.

    "My basic training drill sergeant told me that the Army wasn't for me," said Williamson. "I guess because he thought that I was a gangster or a thug. I never thought that I was a thug or that I was better than anybody, but I did always want to be somebody. So, I think that the Army was a great tool for me to advance and gain discipline to carry on with my life."

    Williamson started his Army career in 1994 as a 75E, records specialist. As an enlisted Soldier, he went on two deployments. The first was to Bosnia in 1998 and the second to Iraq in 2005. During the deployment to Iraq, Williamson's life was changed drastically.

    "As we were going through an underpass my truck got hit by an IED (improvised explosive device)," said Williamson. "It caused me to be the only one in the vehicle to get injured causing damage to my left leg and my right foot. Once it happened, my battalion commander radioed back to my vehicle and asked what was going on and I told him that our vehicle has just been hit and I think I'm injured. Our medic, Spc. Kyle, pulled me out of the vehicle and began administering first aid. I never lost consciousness and I remember her telling me, 'It's going to be ok; it’s going to be ok'. Even though I couldn't feel any sensation in my leg, she propped it up somehow so that it looked like everything was still there."

    After being flown to two Army hospitals on his way back to the U.S., Williamson decided to receive his care at Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas. He chose that hospital to be close to his girlfriend, whom he later married, and is also in the Army. It was there that he would have to make a life changing decision.

    "On the 17th of June (2006) I elected to have my leg amputated," said Williamson. "If the medics didn't receive the training that they received, I can assure you that I probably wouldn't be here today. I love the medics and I love the medical field."

    Williamson's records were then given to a medical review board and after being deemed unfit for duty because of the amputation; Williamson appealed their decision and was granted a COAD.

    "I knew what I wanted to do once my board results came back," said Williamson. "I knew that if I could, I wanted to stay in. Since then, there have been no limits to my military career in my eyes."

    Before Williamson lost his leg, he wanted to submit a packet to become a warrant officer. After getting his career back on track, he submitted his packet. While waiting on his warrant packet to be reviewed, he was also selected to be promoted to E-8 and ended up with the decision to continue his enlisted career or attend Warrant Officer Candidate School. He chose to pursue his hopes of becoming a warrant officer, with success, and continues to maintain his positive outlook on life.

    "I'm an amputee, got it," said Williamson. "But, my mental state is that there are no limits to the things I can do. I can run, I can play basketball, I can lift weights, I can do anything that an able-bodied person can do and probably do them better than some."

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 10.04.2012
    Date Posted: 10.24.2012 14:22
    Story ID: 96682
    Location: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US

    Web Views: 85
    Downloads: 0

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