Photo By Senior Airman Elizabeth Baker | From left to right, Chris Klodt, Invictus Games athlete and former Canadian Army...... read more read more
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In 2006 Klodt was serving with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry when an ambush left him with multiple bullet wounds, including one in the neck.
“Even when I was at Lanstuhl they weren’t sure if I was gonna make it,” Klodt said. “Both my lungs had collapsed and the shot in my chest broke my sternum. They flew my parents out here to say goodbye, but I’m one tough bird I guess.”
Klodt lost all hand and leg function as well as all sensation below his chest, and has limited arm function.
Though Klodt said he has come a long way in his rehab, there was another step to moving on that he wanted to accomplish. He returned to Germany along with Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada, and another Invictus Games athlete and observed a C-17 Globemaster III static display configured for aeromedical evacuation, toured LRMC, and met and spoke with 86th AES and LRMC personnel.
“It’s important to put the pieces back together because it’s part of my history,” Klodt said. “If you know where you’ve been, you know where you’re going. It gives me direction in life.”
Klodt took time to thank those who treat wounded servicemen and women, including some who were still around from the time that he came through. Along the way, personnel embraced him and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to meet.
“What incredible care that goes on here,” Klodt said, “not only to the individual who’s been injured but the family that comes to meet with them. You can’t say enough good things about these people. The hospital is absolutely incredible. It was so humbling because I lost seven days of my life there and it helps to fill in the gaps.”
Though the damage Klodt sustained from his wounds was crippling, since his time at LRMC he has trained himself to function.
“I’m back to a new normal, absolutely,” Klodt said. “I’m completely independent for a quadriplegic. I’m just moving on.”
“Moving on” may be an understatement. Klodt became an athlete, competing in full contact rugby, or “murderball,” and is scheduled to captain his team in the 2017 Invictus Games. The Invictus Games is an international, multi-sport event in which wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel compete.
Having returned to Ramstein and LRMC, thanked the personnel and even met some of the people who were at LRMC 10 years ago, Klodt said that he is now very focused on the upcoming competition and his conditioning.
“I’m going to give the U.S. team a run for their money,” Klodt said with a smile.
The life changing events of 10 years ago have not stopped this vet from embracing the challenge of life. He, along with many other wounded military servicemen and women, are soldiering on.
| Date Taken: | 08.16.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.23.2017 03:38 |
| Story ID: | 245537 |
| Location: | RP, DE |
| Web Views: | 41 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Canadian vet visits Ramstein to reclaim 7 life-changing days of his past, by SrA Elizabeth Baker, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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