Photo By Sgt. Cuong Le | Uriel Guatibonza and Sgt. Adrian Tujillo run the 1500-meter race during the 2015...... read more read more
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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Most people wake up and have to wait for their eyes to adjust to the light. Uriel Guatibonza, a Colombian Marine officer, doesn’t have that problem, because for him the lights are always off.
Uriel lost his eyesight while on a mission to gather votes from different villages throughout Colombia during their 2006 presidential election. His mission took him and his platoon into a known red zone - that was when tragedy struck. He lost control of his vehicle after running over a hidden improvised explosive device.
“The impact of the crash shattered the bones in my face, dislodged one of my eyeballs and pinned my legs to my shoulders,” said Uriel. “I was like that for about four hours before they were able to cut the roof off my car to get me out.”
Throughout his recovery, Uriel’s bones and scars healed, but he was still faced with the fact that he would never be able to see again. Despite the unfortunate news about his eyesight, this was not the end for Uriel.
“It is really tough, its like every day you are losing the fight and that can really make some people lose themselves,” said Uriel. “You have to learn how to eat, how to walk, you have to relearn everything. But, the mind is a powerful thing, so with dedication and heart anything is possible.”
Uriel kept this positive mindset, which eventually brought him to Camp Pendleton to compete in the 2015 Marine Corps Trials. Although he can’t see, Uriel still chose to compete in track, swimming and cycling – events that one may think are impossible for a blind person to take part in.
“The impressive thing about Uriel is, unlike some of the people that compete in the visually impaired category, Uriel is completely blind and it takes a great deal of courage to sprint at top speed when you have no idea where you are going,” said Jeff Mcauley, the head coach for track and field. “He has to deal with his disability every day, so that has given him the ability to not get frustrated when things don’t go his way.”
At an event where all the competitors are wounded, ill, or injured, Uriel’s motivation and dedication stood out and inspired those around him.
“The biggest way that he inspires me is by the pure positivity he brings out here every day,” said Sgt. Adrian Tujillo, Uriel’s translator and guide. “He does things that I imagined weren’t possible. Being here with him has been a really humbling experience.”
During the course of the trials, Uriel won 1st place in the 100 and 50-meter free style, 2nd place in the 50-meter breaststroke and backstroke, and 3rd place in the visually impaired 1500-meter track event.
“Obstacles are things that people make for themselves; one does not succeed with that mentality,” said Uriel. “It has been excellent coming out here every day and receiving excellent advice on my skills and abilities, while also learning different ways to improve myself.”
| Date Taken: | 03.11.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.11.2015 19:30 |
| Story ID: | 156705 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 520 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, All fight, no sight, by Sgt Cuong Le, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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