Josh B.

Josh Bullis is my stepson. He grew up in Phoenix and attended Barry Goldwater High School. He was a Cadet with the Phoenix Police Department until he joined the Army in October of 2009. He was stationed at White Sands Missile Range. On May 2, 2010 he was deployed to Afghanistan where he worked as a Combat Engineer with the 595 Sapper Company. On September 19th, we received a phone call that Josh had stepped on an IED and was now a triple amputee. He was flown to Germany, and once stabilized, on to Walter Reed in Washington D.C. He is now in rehab at the Balboa Naval Medical Center in San Diego, CA. He continues to amaze the staff with his progress. It has been less than two months since the incident, and he is already learning to use a prosthetic arm. On Monday, he will be fitted for prosthetic legs and will begin to learn how to walk again. Josh does not think of himself as a hero. He would like the opportunity to talk to other soldiers and show them that you can succeed no matter what the circumstances. He harbors no resentment or ill will about losing his arm and legs. He will tell you he knew this was a possibility when he joined the Army, and that he was just doing his job. He is truly an inspiration and motivates others to be better people. One of Josh’s goals is to be standing on the tarmac, in uniform, waiting for his unit when they return in April. I have no doubt he will do it. He continues to show us all everyday, that life goes on, and we each have the ability to make the most of our lives. He is my hero.

Signed,
Karen Freund