Nickname(s) Superstud Name Casey Owens | Years of service 2002–2004 Rank Corporal | |
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Awards Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart | ||
Harch treats iraq vet casey owens cbsnews
Corporal Casey Owens USMC (Ret.) (born c. 1981 in Houston, Texas; died October 15, 2014 in Aspen, Colorado) was a United States Marine, Iraq War veteran, and paralympic athlete from Houston, Texas, United States, famed for his feats of completing marathons in a wheelchair after his legs were amputated for injuries received while on a rescue mission during the Iraq War.
Contents
- Harch treats iraq vet casey owens cbsnews
- Natural body transformation fitness motivation casey owens
- Injury and Accomplishments
- Death
- References
Natural body transformation fitness motivation casey owens
Injury and Accomplishments
Corporal Owens deployed for a second tour in Al Anbar Province Iraq August 2004. On September 20, 2004, while responding to a wounded Marine, his vehicle struck two anti-tank mines which resulted in severe injuries to his legs. After being airlifted to and stabilized at a Field Hospital, Owens was transferred to Landstuhl, Germany. Tragically, his injuries resulted in the amputation of his right leg above the knee and his left leg below the knee. Corporal Owens eventually returned to the United States to undergo extensive multiple surgeries and rehabilitation at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. In addition to losing both legs, his injuries included a broken jaw and collarbone, shrapnel wounds, collapsed lungs, blood clots in the lungs.
The muscle and skin flaps on his amputation stumps failed to close properly and resulted in nonhealing wounds. Corporal Owens said he subsequently underwent repeated amputations which further reduced the size of his stumps while a patient at VA and military hospitals. Through the help of several charitable organizations and private pay from his own pocket, Owens received hyperberic oxygen therapy treatment in New Orleans, Louisiana by Dr. Paul Harch MD. Owens later testified before the United States Congress in hearings regarding the poor quality of care and "bureaucratic maze" that military personnel must navigate in order to receive medical care from the VA.
After a return to college which proved unsuccessful due to Traumatic Brain Injury, Corporal Owens became an accomplished paralympian skier and marathon runner in the paralympic games.
Death
Corporal Owens struggled with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and alcohol dependence despite his many accomplishments. In 2010, he was convicted of drunk driving and began the arduous journey on the road to recovery. During a 2012 interview with CBS News' National Security Correspondent David Martin, Owens remarked "I really don't think I'll ever be free. I don't think the burden of war is ever gone."
On October 16, 2014, Corporal Owens died by suicide as a result of his struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Friends, family, and the general public honored his memory with an "appreciation party" in Aspen, Colorado on October 18, 2014.
Those of us who knew Casey, and were lucky enough to ski with him, will always be in awe of his strength, courage, and love of speed. Casey was angry because he had been a very good Marine, and could no longer do that job. He was a very very fast skier, and the mountain is a little smaller now that he is gone. I think it was the headaches that finally got him, he could not find any long term relief from the torturous headaches. We will miss CPL Casey Owens, USMC.
Interment of his remains with full military honors is scheduled for MON March 23, 2015 at Arlington National Cemetery.