Found at AirborneCombatEngineer....
Here's all he said when asked about all those who said he couldn't make it:"I don't have to say anything to people who said I couldn't make it. I just graduated."
Before battling to get into Airborne school, he had to battle to just stay on active duty:
"After his injury and the loss of his leg, Chandler had to go before a Naval review. They had to make a decision as to whether he should be retained on active duty," Rice explained. "He was able to demonstrate to the Physical Evaluation Review Board that he was fit for return to full duty with no limitations."
Sgt. Christopher Chandler, an Aurora, Colo., native, lost his left leg from below the knee Dec. 16, 2001, when he stepped on a land mine while providing security for an explosives ordnance disposal unit in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Chandler's enthusiasm and tireless commitment inspired many of his classmates and set the standard for them to follow."The first time I even realized he had a prosthetic leg was during one of our PT (physical training) sessions, and he was just smoking these little 18 year olds out there," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Brian Mayer, Special Operations Command Fort Bragg, N.C. "He's an inspiration because you have all these perfectly healthy people who wash out and quit while he stays in and makes it. That's a real testament to his character."
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