[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Published in Military Spouse and adapted for G.I. Jobs.
Sgt. Noah Galloway was three months into his second tour in Iraq when his world changed forever. A native of Birmingham, Ala., Galloway was serving with the 101st Airborne Division when he was severely wounded in an Improvised Explosive Device attack on Dec. 19, 2005. He woke up on Christmas Eve to learn he lost two of his limbs and sustained severe injuries to his right leg and his jaw. Galloway was transferred to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he faced a long, painful recovery.
After months of recovery and rehabilitation, Galloway became depressed, withdrawn, and out of shape. As his website relates the story, “The former fitness fanatic and hyper competitive athlete was now drinking, smoking and sleeping his days away. But late one night, Galloway took a long look in the mirror and realized there was more to him than his injuries. And he set a goal to get back in shape, be healthier and inspire others.”
Since then he’s appeared on “American Grit,” competed on “Dancing with the Stars” and appeared on the cover of Men’s Health magazine. He’s a personal trainer and a motivational speaker who “doesn’t take excuses from his clients, fans and followers – and finds ways to get things done.” Galloway competes in adventure races around the country, and now he’s publishing a book titled “Living With No Excuses.”
We had the chance to sit down with Galloway to hear about his incredible journey and what he’s up to next.[/fusion_text][/fullwidth][fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][two_third last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Noah, thank you so much for your service! Let’s start with Operation Iraqi Freedom, your injury, and your long road to recovery. How did you feel when it looked like every circumstance was against you and there was no hope?
Galloway: I don’t remember the explosion. I just remember waking up in the hospital in shock. Like so many men and women, when you leave for war, you have the mindset, “I’m either going to come back or I’ll die in combat,” and I accepted that. I never expected to wake up to find my body altered as it was, missing two limbs. It bothered me that I was going to be disabled for the rest of my life and that my career as an infantry soldier was over.
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Galloway: I battled depression and was in denial; I was not there emotionally for my children. One day I saw my three kids sitting on the couch and looked at my two boys and knew that I was showing them what a man was … for my little girl, I was showing her how a man was supposed to act and that’s what she was going to look for one day. That was enough motivation for me to get up, start eating healthy, get back into fitness, and dig out of the deep, dark hole I was in. But it didn’t happen overnight.
Talk a little bit about your relationship with your kids since returning home and the change in you when you were looking in that mirror and thinking, “I am more than my injuries.”
Galloway: The relationship I have with my kids now is stronger than it ever could have been if I hadn’t been injured. In the dark time, I felt useless and had no hope. I credit them to all of my success; without them knowing it, they are what motivated me to make a great change and save myself.
What was it like to return to Iraq last year with nine other wounded warriors to the same area where you were injured?
Galloway: I made the trip back with troops, but I was the only one of the injured veterans who couldn’t go back to the area of the injury – the Triangle of Death – because it was still very dangerous. But speaking to the troops still in uniform in the camps was incredible. It was more exciting to meet these men and women that are still in the fight, than if you would have put me in a room full of Michael Jordan or any other celebrity you can think of – not that I wouldn’t want to meet them, but these people were more important.
I let them know that since I am so visibly injured, I am stopped all the time and thanked for my service. This was my chance to pass that information on to those who are not in contact with these thankful people every day. Americans support the troops, no matter what’s going on, whether or not they are for or against war, we love our troops.
How do you fight the stigma of “broken” combat veterans?
Galloway: My children were my motivation; they are more important to me than anything on this planet. So, find your hope and make a change. You have to find your real motivation and then you will start working toward a goal to get it down.[/fusion_text][/fullwidth][fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][one_third last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][imageframe lightbox=”no” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””]
Galloway: Yes, I’ve been working on this book while filming “American Grit.” I’ve had to go through things in my past that I’ve worked through already, but it hits you in a certain spot when you have to replay that. One thing I really wanted in my book was the depression; I was very vulnerable in talking about the tears I shed. If it were just that I was injured and then I was on the cover of Men’s Health and then on “Dancing with the Stars,” then it looks like I’m not real, I wouldn’t connect with anybody. I wanted that depression to be in there to show others that we all go through it. If one person reads it that is going through the same depression and sees that they can get help and there is light at the end of the tunnel, then the book was a success.
[/fusion_text][/two_third][/fullwidth][fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Noah, some final thoughts about your time in the spotlight. What was your best memory from your time on “Dancing with the Stars”?
Galloway: The best memory I had was week five when I danced to Toby Keith’s “American Soldier” – the reaction I got from a veteran who said I was positively affecting veterans by being on the show. It was inspiring for me to know that I was connecting with and inspiring other people around the world and it gave me the motivation to push harder each week.
What is your role on “American Grit”?
Galloway: The idea of the show is: Me, a sniper from a Ranger battalion, a Navy SEAL and a Marine are the cadre; we are in charge of 16 competitors who want to be pushed physically and mentally and we each have teams of four. Each week I push and challenge them as hard as I can to keep my team in a tight group.
SPOILER ALERT!
In the finale of “American Grit,” Clare and Mark from Team Noah took home the grand prize! We couldn’t be more excited for you, Noah, and we look forward to seeing what you’ll do next![/fusion_text][/fullwidth]