[nfbwatlk] Blind Soldiers Still Serving, Thriving In New Positions, Huffington Post, May 21 2010

Robert Sellers robertsellers500 at comcast.net
Tue May 25 11:12:04 UTC 2010



Wonder if there would be a chance for any of these blind soldiers  coming to
the NFB National convention?

bobd 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Nightingale, Noel
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 4:26 PM
To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfbwatlk] Blind Soldiers Still Serving, Thriving In New Positions,
Huffington Post, May 21 2010



Link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/21/blind-soldiers-still-serv_n_585038.
html

Text:
Blind Soldiers Still Serving, Thriving In New Positions
MICHAEL HILL | 05/21/10

In this April 8, 2010 photo, Capt. Scott Smiley gives a tour of his staff's
offices in West Point, N.Y. Smiley is one of only a few blind soldiers to
remain on active duty since the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Though
unable to return to his old infantry duties, Smiley has thrived in stateside
postings like his latest at West Point, where he graduated in 2003. He now
commands the Warrior Transition Unit here for ailing or wounded soldiers.
(AP Photo/Mike Groll)

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Since a car bomb blinded Capt. Scott Smiley in Iraq, he
has skied Vail, climbed Mount Rainier, earned his MBA, raised two young boys
with his wife, won an Espy award and pulled himself up from faith-shaking
depths.

Smiley, 30, has snagged attention for his big accomplishments. But the daily
ones are telling, too, including the recent tour he gave of his staff's
offices at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he plans to attend
President Barack Obama's address of the Class of 2010 on Saturday.

Unable to see the path around the workers' cubicles, Smiley stepped forward
with a joke to the camouflage-clad officers he was showing around: "I walk
around, and when I hit things, I move," he said.

An aide trailing him said softly, "Turn right, sir," at a doorway. Smiley
turned.

Smiley, of Pasco, Wash., is one of only a handful of soldiers who chose to
remain on active duty after being blinded by fighting in Iraq and
Afghanistan, a practice that's rare but one that military officials say
benefits both parties.

Though unable to return to his old infantry duties in Iraq, Smiley has
thrived in stateside postings such as his latest at West Point, from which
he graduated in 2003. He now commands the Warrior Transition Unit at West
Point for ailing or wounded soldiers.

Voice software allows Smiley to listen to e-mails, books and pamphlets.
Aides help him navigate and tell him what order he's signing. It's a little
like changing his son's diapers at home: He's fine as long as he knows where
everything is.

His resiliency and energy helped him earn the 2007 Soldier of the Year
commendation from the publication Army Times, as well as an ESPN Espy award
in 2008 for best outdoor athlete.

He earned his master's of business administration at Duke University and has
spoken to the Olympic and Duke teams coached by Mike Krzyzewski, a fellow
West Point alum. He has a memoir coming out this year titled "Hope Unseen."


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