Retired Staff Sergeant Travis Mills!!!
Dear fans - Sometimes I have to take a break from my fine world of fiction and romance to
enter a better place where real heroes live, breathe and inspire me. Below is an article from Mike Rowe, the guy on Dirty Jobs who
also narrates Deadliest Catch. I totally love this guy. Mike's okay too.
"Say hi to Retired Staff Sargent Travis Mills, formerly of the 82nd
Airborne, US Army.
As you can see, Travis has undergone a few structural modifications,
most visibly in the leg department. Likewise, his left arm is more machine than
flesh, and though his right arm appears to be around my waist, it really isn’t.
Like the rest of his limbs, it’s been missing in action for some time.
I met Travis a few weeks ago in DC at The Science and Engineering
Festival, and spent a half hour talking, mostly about Dirty Jobs. He wanted to
tell me how much he and his buddies appreciated that show while on active duty.
He wanted to know what it was like to work in so many “difficult and dangerous
situations.”
Can you imagine? How exactly does one answer a question like that
from a guy like this?
On the day we met, I was a little stressed out. I had just moderated
a panel on the main stage, and I was rushing to the other end of the Convention
Center to meet with a bunch of CEO’s to discuss mikeroweWORKS. I was late, and there
were three-hundred and fifty thousand people between me and where I needed to
go, all of whom wanted to say hello and take a photo. My security team was
cutting a swath through the crowd, and I was trying very hard not to look like
a complete douche. Then one of the event organizers ran over and grabbed my
arm.
“Hey Mike, there’s a guy backstage who really wants to say hello.”
“That’s nice,” I said. “Tell him to get out here and do it.” I was
walking fast, head down, determined to maintain forward momentum. If you stop
in a situation like that, you never get started again.
“Well,” said the guy, “it would be easier if you came to him. It’ll
just take a second.”
“Why? His legs broken?”
“Uhh...not exactly. But he’s just around the corner. I think he was
in the war.”
I told the security guys to sit tight, and followed the guy down a
long hallway, looking at my watch as we fast-walked into the backstage area.
Then we ducked behind a blue curtain, and Travis Mills stood up to greet me.
Actually, he kind of unfolded himself from a chair, and came toward me with a
very wide smile. He then extended a prosthetic arm and offered a plastic hand,
which I automatically shook.
“Mike Rowe! What an honor! I’m Travis Mills, and I’m very, very
pleased to meet you.”
I’ve seen a lot of things over the years, and I’ve gotten good at
pretending there’s nothing unusual when there clearly is. But I was completely
unprepared for this.
“Ahh...shit,” I said. “What happened?”
“IED. Afghanistan.”
“Damn. I’m sorry.”
“No big deal. It’s been two years now. I’m good. Tell me something
though - are you gonna do anymore Dirty Jobs?”
“Uhh...what?”
“Dirty Jobs, man! When are we gonna see some new ones?”
“Well Travis, that show was cancelled. I’m working on something new
though that I think will be just as good. Maybe better.”
“Hey, that’s great! I got new legs and you got a new show! Tell me
all about it!”
That’s how the conversation started. My show. My foundation. My
book. Etc. But I eventually steered it back to him, and learned that Travis is
one of only five quadruple amputees to survive that level of injury in the
recent wars.
He has a motto: Never Give Up - Never Quit.
He has a Foundation. He’s featured in a new documentary. He also has
a wife and a kid, and a deeply personal commitment to help other wounded Vets
cope with their injuries. But when I asked why I hadn’t seen him in any of the
typical commercials and PSA’s for wounded veterans, his answer was stunning. He
said he didn’t consider himself to be wounded.
“I’m not a victim, Mike. And I refuse to be portrayed that way. Case
closed.”
Fact is, Travis is missing more than a few original parts; he’s
missing all traces of self-pity. And that’s presents a challenge for mortals
like me. Because it’s a hell of a thing to feel put out because a crowd of fans
are making me late for an important meeting, and then listen to a guy with no
arms or legs tell me how lucky he is, and how much he appreciates all my hard
work.
That’s called a gut-check, and I could use one from time to time.
Especially on Memorial Day, when the biggest decisions I face are what to grill
and which type of frosty beverage to enjoy. This year, as I resolve these and
other important issues, I’ll think of Travis Mills. A guy who went out on a
limb for me, in every way possible.
Thanks Travis.
And Happy Memorial Day to you all.
Mike
PS. His story is incredible. Check it out, if you have the time.
