Ga. soldier who lost leg fighting in Iraq to compete in Paralympics

Sgt. 1st Class Josh Olson / WRBL

(CBS/AP) FORT BENNING, Ga. - A Georgia-based Army soldier who lost a leg while fighting in Iraq is getting ready to compete at the Paralympics in London.

Sgt. 1st Class Josh Olson, an Army marksman stationed at Fort Benning, will compete in two events — the mixed 10-meter air rifle competition Sept. 1 and the mixed 50-meter prone rifle event Sept. 4.

OIson was deployed to Iraq in 2004 when he suffered severe injuries in a rocket-propelled grenade explosion. Doctors had to amputate his right leg and he spent 18 months in rehab.

"I thought my Army career was over," Olson told CBS affiliate WRBL in June.

Olson was able to stay on active duty by joining the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning in Columbus. There he trained with other the Army's other competitive shooters, including Olympians who just competed in London, to prepare for the Paralympics.