Wounded Warriors Find New Mission

CBS Evening News: Paralympics Gives Vets New Avenue To Compete, Serve Their Country

(CBS)  Lap after lap, Melissa Stockwell churns, ignoring fatigue. But her physical sacrifice is nothing new. Stockwell lost a leg in Baghdad for her country.

"We went under the underpass and there was a big explosion - a big boom," Stockwell told CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann.

In April 2004, Lt. Stockwell was on a routine patrol when an improvised explosive device ripped through her Army humvee. Blood poured from one leg.

"It didn't register that it was gone," she said. "So I said, 'I'm hurt, I think something happened to my leg.' "

Four years later, though, something wondrous happened to her life. As a swimmer, she's one of the first two Iraq veterans to make the U.S. Paralympic team, which starts competition Saturday in Beijing.

The other is Scott Winkler, a medal favorite in the shotput.

Five years ago, Winkler had a freak accident in Iraq. He fell of an ammo truck, his body grotesquely twisted. He was left paralyzed below the chest.

Winkler practices on his own front lawn. The shot put became his therapy - both physical and mental.

Six months after his very first throw, he set a world record.

"I look at it as this is my battle. This is where I do my battle," Winkler said. "It's a competition and I'm there to win."

Stockwell's success is just as improbable. After her amputation, she discovered swimming. And a new mission outlined on her new leg as a reminder of her goal - Beijing gold.

"Immediately I knew I wanted to try it," she said.

When Melissa started training in January, she was a long shot to make the team. By April, she had already set an American record in the 400-m freestyle. She was on her way to Beijing to compete.

They're soldier-athletes on a new battlefield.

"The Army slogan was 'be all that you can be,' so I guess that comes into play," said Stockwell.

"I cannot let my country down. I will not let my country down," said Winkler.

In Beijing, Stockwell will compete in three swimming events. And these new combat buddies will cheer each other on.

"The way she swims, I mean she swims like a dolphin," Winkler said. "Real quick."

"I think I'll be extra proud when I hear how he does," said Stockwell. "Just, we come from the same place."
And they ended up in the same place - wearing their country's uniform again, with medals in sight.

[vechibless]

'' .. if you wanted peace and prosperity forever, you should have instead of giveing a dollar to each of the first 33 poor hungry big men you saw each day, you should have given a dollar to each of the first 33 little armord girls of nuclear biological chemical stealth ray war you saw each day .. ''

'' .. if journalists and musicians were less dressed and diligent and more garden cut and paste, then they would be more easy to mimic .. if soldiers and congresses were more dressed and diligent and less garden cut and paste, then they would be less easy to mimic .. ''

'' .. in the time it takes to educate one class of build - its, the armys educate hundreds and thousands of classes of destroy - its .. ''

[oneworldusa]

It''s sad the Paralympics receive very little coverage. This is the first I knew it was going on in Beijing after the olympics.

These brave soldiers have defied odds and continue to live their lives to the fullest regardless of their disabilities and compete. While I am saddened they incurred injuries in a war with no reason, I am so proud of them for moving forward beyond what they cannot change, and without complaint it appears. Amazing.

Furthermore, they have brought attention to the Paralympics which represents so many other people all over the world who, regardless of their challenges find the strength and determination to live life to its fullest potential.

[rockpeterson]

All the best to Melissa and Scott. They have sacrificed greatly for their country. May God bless them both!!!

[mydiatribe]

Anti-war protestors think they''ve made a sacrifice if they by give up a Saturday morning. Getting acquainted with women like this could help explain a few things, like the meaning of words like: DUTY, PATRIOTISM, SACRIFICE & LOVE OF COUNTRY.

[hermitdave]

How touching to hear these sad stories. Even sadder to see they don''t understand why they were in harms way. Pure greed as they were sent to fight for western BIG OIL. All Iraq VETS should never have to pay for gas as long as they live. Uncle Richard and crusader George should pay for every drop of gas.

[inventagod2]

I too, hate what the Bu$hCo NeoCons have done to our country and our troops.
Oil is just not worth this abomination.
The money thrown into the desert stupidity would be a great down-payment on alternative energy.
But instead, we have greedy Republicons growing fat on defense industry payola.
Worse than that - we are promoting Faux patriotism with these recruitment stories of horribly wounded vets...
So the politicians and the military profit once again from Bu$hCos 9/11 attack on the USA.

[antepamfe200]

God bless all of our service men and women all over the world. Thank you all.

[wogerwabbit]

Geeze, I''m speechless. Being a veteran wounded in mind only (but blessed in the end for the wisdom it gives me), I bow before this young woman and the thousands of our brothers and sisters and sons and daughters and... if this s**t don''t end real soon... my grandkids (oldest is 16 as we speak), who share her fate in many ghaslty forms and are so heroic in demonstrating their own bravery and... humanity... after having lost so much. They shame us all with their honest, soul given patriotism and a devotion to country and duty that should send all neocons fleeing in shame. God bless America and ******* the neocons for bring their New World Order to America!