LIEUTENANT JASON C. REDMAN
Growing up as a young man in America, many of us see movies and hear stories of the renowned Navy SEALS. These elite special operations teams within the military are comprised of some of the baddest dudes on the planet, and we’re lucky they fight for us, not the other side. They conduct secret operations going after bad guys and rescuing the good guys. We hear about infamous missions like their raid on Osama Bin Laden - the terrorist responsible for the 9/11 attacks on America - but yet, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Most of the work these men do goes under the radar, as the very nature of their job requires them to stay out of the limelight. But they continue to work diligently in silence, bringing fear into the eyes of the enemy, and maintaining freedom for us back home.
Jason C. Redman was one of these men. He joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 on September 11, 1992. After a short time, he received orders to go to BUDS (Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL) training in Coronado, CA, and graduated as a Navy SEAL in December 1995. As a Navy SEAL, he completed multiple deployments to Central and South America fighting bad guys. Later on, he became an officer and was leading SEAL teams in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as an Assault Force Commander, Mobility Force Commander and Sensitive Site Exploitation and Analysis leader.
Fast forward to September 13, 2007. Jason’s assault team was conducting a mission in Fallujah, Iraq. They were advancing towards a building where they suspected a high-value Al-Qaeda operative was hiding. They ended up coming under heavy machine gun fire with little cover. Jason was shot multiple times, but the team fought back valiantly. The team leader, left with little option, ended up calling in a “Danger Close” fire mission with an AC-130 gunship directly on their position to save them.
37 surgeries, 1,200 stitches, 200 staples, 15 skin grafts, and one tracheotomy later, Jason was fortunate to still be alive, albeit in poor condition. He lost his sense of smell and has limited range of motion in one arm from rounds that went through his face and elbow; however, he still had his fighting spirit. Jason was launched into the spotlight when he put this motivating and inspiring, hand-written sign on the door of his hospital room:
“Attention to all who enter here. If you are coming into this room with sorrow or to feel sorry for my wounds, go elsewhere. The wounds I received I got in a job I love, doing it for people I love, supporting the freedom of a country I deeply love. I am incredibly tough and will make a full recovery. What is full? That is the absolute utmost physically my body has the ability to recover. Then I will push that about 20 percent further through sheer mental tenacity. This room you are about to enter is a room of fun, optimism, and intense rapid regrowth. If you are not prepared for that, go elsewhere. - The Management”
This sign got the attention of many news stations, as well as then-President George W. Bush who invited Jason to meet him in the Oval Office of the White House. The sign now hangs in the wounded ward of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as a message of hope to wounded veterans and their families that pass through.
Today, Jason utilizes the lessons he’s learned through his military career as a Navy SEAL, as well as his injuries and recovery, to teach others the mindset that allowed him to push through difficult times and overcome adversity. He travels the world as an author, speaker, and coach helping others achieve more. Jason was (and very much still is) the kind of guy we’re proud exists. A warrior willing to look past family and creature comforts to go overseas and do what needs to be done in the name of freedom. A true American patriot.