Veteran Walks For His College Graduation After Recovering From 13 Gunshots

Dec 20, 2018 by apost team

Sometimes getting your college degree can be difficult. Issues ranging from finances to family problems to not knowing what you want to study often prevent people from finishing their coursework. The situation can be even more difficult for soldiers in the military.

As the defenders of our freedom, soldiers place their duty before everything else, even their own education. When a soldier is wounded in combat, medical bills and exhaustive rehabilitation can create further obstacles in finishing a degree. A veteran from Murfreesboro, Tennessee knows all too well how difficult it can be to obtain a college degree.

Jay Strobino is a veteran of the Iraq War. Deployed to the country in 2006, Jay and his comrades in the 101st Airborne Division were given a dangerous mission: apprehend a high-profile criminal who was providing supplies to insurgents.

The mission quickly took a dark turn as Jay and his fellow soldiers were ambushed by enemy soldiers. During the intense fight, Jay was shot 13 times. Among the most serious injuries the soldier sustained were shots to his lung, his neck, and his femur. Despite the severity of his injuries, Jay survived the vicious assault.

apost.com

Brought home, Jay faced a year of grueling rehabilitation as he regained the ability to walk. In all the hours of physical therapy, Jay said that he was able to pull through by being optimistic. Explaining the situation to reporters, Jay said that he maintained a positive outlook by reminding himself that he was still alive and still had all of his limbs. Nevertheless, Jay concedes that it is a miracle that he is still alive after the ordeal he faced in Iraq.

Moving on with his life, Jay recently strode across the graduation stage at Middle Tennessee State University, earning a degree in exercise science with a minor in biology. Jay would later joke that in addition to his severe wounds, he almost didn’t graduate because he filled out the wrong papers and brought them to the wrong building.

Jay thanked the Daniels Veterans Center for helping him obtain his degree. The Daniels Veterans Center is an organization that helps veterans achieve success in civilian life.

In addition to helping veterans with academic advising, the Daniels Veterans Center brandishes an extensive network of business professionals eager to hire veterans for their great work ethic. Jay hopes other veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan will be inspired by his example, telling others to live life without limits.

What do you think of Jay’s story? Are you aware of any organizations in your area that help veterans achieve success outside of the military? Let us know in the comments and pass this inspiring article along to your friends and family!