Consequence or Opportunity: Purple Heart recipient now a motivational speaker

Photo By Chad Menegay | Retired Master Sgt. Doug Reed, a motivational speaker, spreads hope and attempts to change peoples’ perspectives, at the Joint Senior Leader Conference Feb. 14 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Doug was severely wounded by a rocket propelled grenade in Afghanistan in 2010, and he and his wife now travel to share their story of recovery and a positive outlook on life. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Chad Menegay, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)  

COLUMBUS, UNITED STATES

08.13.2020

Story by Spc. Jeremiah Smith 

196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

COLUMBUS, Ohio (02/16/20) —It was an early Friday afternoon at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio, and Retired Sgt. Maj. Doug Reed, a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient, took his opportunity, alongside his wife Jana Reed, to speak to hundreds of high-ranking Ohio National Guard (ONG) leaders at the Joint Senior Leader Conference.
An unexpected event has brought many opportunities to the Reed family.
On April 11, 2010, Doug was on patrol north of Kabul, Afghanistan, when he and other members of his Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) were ambushed by insurgents. During the ambush, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) was fired and hit him in the face. A disfigured face, lost finger, and a broken wrist were the ultimate consequences— or so most people would think, but the real result was an opportunity to spread hope.
The initial consequences weren’t going to hold Doug back, and with the help of the National Guard and his loving family Doug beat and continues to beat expectations. The Reed family would be the first ones to tell you that the ONG really does take care of its Soldiers. “Even the financial end of it, to rent a car for two years, you know financially we could not have afforded that, but the Guard made a way,” Jana said. Whether it's the ONG sending Soldiers to stand by the family’s side, so Doug has a familiar face alongside Jana, or helping the family with transportation, the ONG took care of Doug.
“It helped having that military face as well as having my wife around,” said Doug
Even with the help, times were tough. Two years of intense surgeries, stress from finances and thoughts of how the kids are going to be taken care of can take a toll on any person. If you ask the Reeds what one needs to get past these trying times, it is a great attitude.
People can feel sorry for themselves, roll over and give up, but, to the Reeds, it’s about how you respond to struggles. Doug Reed responded with a great attitude and some added humor.
“If you remember your injury, then you are still living, so live,” Doug Reed said.
Still dealing with some of the injuries ten years later, Doug doesn’t allow it to ruin his mindset and attitude. He and Jana both believe that the event brought great opportunities to them. They have the opportunity to go around and speak, as motivational speakers, about how one’s attitude and belief in something greater can help you through the worst of times.
“If anything we can tell somebody, just because something happened: injury, car breaks down, won’t start doesn’t mean that life doesn’t keep moving,” said Doug.

• Date Taken: 08.13.2020
• Date Posted: 08.20.2020 20:57
• Story ID: 375939
• Location: COLUMBUS, US