A Soldier’s Race for Gold in the Shadow of War Kortney Clemons with Bill Briggs John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ffffiirrss..iinndddd ii 55//1155//0088 11::5511::0099 PPMM ffffiirrss..iinndddd iivv 55//1155//0088 11::5511::1100 PPMM A Soldier’s Race for Gold in the Shadow of War Kortney Clemons with Bill Briggs John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ffffiirrss..iinndddd ii 55//1155//0088 11::5511::0099 PPMM This book is printed on acid-free paper. Copyright © 2008 by Kortney Clemons and Bill Briggs. All rights reserved Photo Credits: Photographs on pages 101 through 110 courtesy of the Clemons family. Photographs on pages 111 through 113 © Steve G. Manuel. 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Title GV1061.15.C54C54 2008 796.42092—dc22 [B] 2008003760 Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ffffiirrss..iinndddd iiii 55//1155//0088 11::5511::0099 PPMM This is dedicated to my mom, Lois, my pops, Mitch, my brother, Maurice, my daughter, Daytriona, and all the people who are close to me. Without you, I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I’ve made it today. —Kortney Clemons For Nancy. She believed. Always. —Bill Briggs ffffiirrss..iinndddd iiiiii 55//1155//0088 11::5511::1100 PPMM ffffiirrss..iinndddd iivv 55//1155//0088 11::5511::1100 PPMM Contents Acknowledgments vii Author’s Note ix Part I BLOOD AND TEARS 1 Medic Down 3 2 Southern Roots 25 3 Missing Pieces 43 4 Into the Void 57 5 Baby Steps 73 Part II WEARING THE COLORS 6 Vision of Hope 117 7 Off and Running 141 v ffttoocc..iinndddd vv 55//1155//0088 11::5511::2233 PPMM CONTENTS 8 Big Lift 161 9 Precious Time 191 10 History and Headlights 209 11 Heavy Lessons 231 12 Full Circle 245 Index 269 vi ffttoocc..iinndddd vvii 55//1155//0088 11::5511::2244 PPMM AAcckknnoowwlleeddggmmeennttss T his memoir could not have been fully told without the help of many other soldiers, prosthetists, therapists, coaches, and, of course, my family. There are many to thank: my parents, Mitch and Lois Clemons; my cousin, Debbie Poe; my fellow soldiers J onathan Hart, John Shatto, Bryce Rigby, Dan Perseke, Chad Turner, Evan Morgan, Connie (Spinks) Ross, and Mario Rodas; historian Harold Graham; John Fergason, chief of prosthetics at Brooke Army Medical Center; Matt Parker, my physical therapist at BAMC; John Register, Associate Director of Outreach and Development for U.S. Paralympics; Beth Bourgeois, communica- tions manager for the Paralympic Division of the U.S. O lympic Committee; Peter Harsch, prosthetist at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego; U.S. Paralympic powerlifting coach Mary Hodge; Teri Jordan, disability recreation programs coordinator for Penn State; Tim Rayer, prosthetist and owner of Prosthetic Innova- tions; my fellow sprinter Wardell Swann; Dave Johnson, director of the Penn Relays; Troy Engle, U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Team Head Coach; my literary agents, Frank Scatoni and Greg Dinkin; and Jerry Kerr, president and founder of Dis- ability Rights Advocates for Technology. I must also acknowledge vii ffllaasstt..iinndddd vviiii 55//1155//0088 11::5511::3366 PPMM