Triple amputee gives words of wisdom during visit to Okinawa

by Airman 1st Class Malia Jenkins
18th Wing Public Affairs

6/18/2013 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan  -- Bryan Anderson, a triple amputee and Purple Heart recipient, visited Okinawa June 12-19 to deliver his message of perseverance and determination to service members and their families across the island.

"His reach is much more beyond the military and wounded Soldiers," said Dick McLane, Anderson's manager. "There's a whole community of people with disabilities he supports and serves, especially the kids."

Anderson enlisted in the U.S. Army April 2001 and was a military policeman as a sergeant. He served two tours in Iraq and was injured October 23, 2005, due to an improvised explosive device.

As a result of the explosion, Anderson lost both his legs and his left hand. Although his life has changed, he still has a positive attitude on life, an energetic personality and is one of many examples of resiliency throughout the military.

"It's really all about your attitude and how you look at things and perseverance basically, adapt and overcome," Anderson said. "Just because something bad happens doesn't mean you have to have a (crappy) life."

Anderson said he's all about doing things for the first time. The two years in Iraq seemed like they flew by and those two years were new experiences and that's what he cherishes now; new experiences, he said.

"I don't see this as a bad thing or a tragedy. It's just another life experience that has taught me a lot about who I am, what I'm capable of and opened a lot of doors that might not necessarily (have) opened otherwise," Anderson said. "I have a great life and I'm very thankful for what I have, what I do and who I am."

Although he lost three limbs, he doesn't see his injury as being debilitating. Since he used to be a gymnast, he now sees the world as his personal jungle gym.

"People underestimate the power of having fun," Anderson added. "I think in life, (having fun) is important. Even being in a wheelchair, I think about it as skate boarding all the time."

Since his injury, Anderson has become the national spokesperson for Quantum Rehab, a division of Pride Mobility Corp., and USA Cares, which focuses on assisting post 9/11 veterans in times of need.

He also has had the opportunity to be featured in a Marvel Comic, be a murder suspect on Crime Scene Investigator's New York episode and has written a book, No Turning Back, about his experience of being in an explosion and his struggles with being an amputee.

He emphasizes taking advantage of opportunities as they present themselves and challenges everyone around him to do the same in spite of the challenges they face.

Before Anderson departed the base, he left the 18th Wing with one thing, to look at the world with a different eye and to see the positives in life.

"Life is what you make of it," Anderson said. "Don't do things for the last time, do them for the first time."