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The pounding of a basketball hitting a freshly waxed court. The crash of colliding wheelchairs. The screams of fans from the stands fill the room.
Retired Marine Corps Sgt. Eric Rodriguez finds himself on a new battlefield.
“When I’m on the court I feel like I’m back in a war zone,” said Rodriguez. “I check and try to see what the enemy is planning to counter with to adjust. I’m always checking where my teammates are and seeing if they need help. I try to see the situation before it happens. If my teammate is going to get attacked, I want to be able to help them. I try to be that guardian angel.”
Seven years ago and thousands of miles away from his University of Missouri Campus, Rodriguez’s world crashed down on him - literally.
While in his last week of deployment with Scout Sniper Platoon in Helmand, Afghanistan, Rodriguez and his team were tasked to provide over watch on a resupply route in support of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment.
While en route to taking a good position, the sudden blast of an improvised explosive device (IED) went off under his feet, blowing Rodriguez into the air.
“I woke up, and I knew something bad had happened,” said Rodriguez. “I was instantly mad at the world, God-- and was about to blame everyone else and anything I could think of. Something told me to stop being selfish. Something told me to think about my daughter and how she would still need me.”
The IED blast blew off Rodriguez’s right foot and part of his calf. It also left Rodriguez with a broken right arm and severely damaged left leg. He was medically evacuated to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and he received surgery on March 31st.
Shortly after his surgery, Rodriguez transferred to Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) for physical and occupational therapy. Rodriguez fully intended to return to his unit.
“Eric was unlike other patients,” said Nathan Jackson, NMCSD prosthetic technologist. “He was very motivated. Even with injuries on both sides, he showed so much interest in getting back to the level he was before the injury. He went through the program fairly quick. He adapted and overcame (his injury) during his time with us.”
Rodriguez wears a prosthetic on the right side and an Ideo brace on the left. Despite his setbacks, he never stopped pushing.
“I knew I put myself in a risky situation,” said Rodriguez. “I went in knowing I had a 50-50 chance of getting hurt or possibly dying. It was my eighth deployment. I was asking for it, so losing a foot over my life wasn’t a bad trade. It gave me a chance to have a positive lifestyle from then on.”
Two months into recovery, Rodriguez progress languished. He realized the chances of him returning to the battlefield were very slim. Still, he did not give up hope. He pushed hard to recover.
“I went to physical therapy three times a day to try to help me recover faster,” said Rodriguez. “The Comprehensive Combat and Complex Casualty Care (C5) team helped me adapt and move on with my new life. I received a huge amount of support from Balboa staff, volunteers and nonprofit organizations. They helped make my transition smooth and allowed me to concentrate on my recovery.”
Since recovery, Rodriguez remains motivated. He entered the Warrior Games and Invictus Games, competing in hand cycling, wheelchair basketball, track and field and wheelchair rugby. He played on the military exclusive San Diego Wolf Pack Wheelchair Basketball Team.
Rodriguez’s talent and drive earned him a scholarship to play wheelchair basketball for the University of Missouri Tigers. Rodriguez and his new squad take the court for their first tournament in Columbia, Missouri, Dec. 1st.
“I always push myself be positive,” said Rodriguez. “I try my best to live without excuses. I want to be an example for my children and those who look up to me. I hold myself to a high standard like the Marines trained me to. I represent the great nation of the United States.”
| Date Taken: | 11.29.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 11.29.2017 13:57 |
| Story ID: | 256782 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 115 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Once a Marine, Always a Marine, by PO3 Harley Sarmiento, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
