Friends,
While it was my honor to host the pre-race dinner for the visually impaired athletes, guides and volunteers who took part in the USABA National Blind Marathon Championships at this year’s California International Marathon, I was overwhelmed by the presence of Gil Magallanes and his daughter Brittany. As you will recall, Gil’s 8-year anniversary date of his injury was on December 5th, the evening of our pre-race event.
Gil and his 11 man Green Beret unit were some of the first on the ground in Afghanistan after 9/11. Everyone in his group sustained injuries and several lost their lives. As we were all placing flags up on our houses, Gil was being dropped into the desert with his small special forces group to provide direct security support to Karzai and the CIA and to fight for our Nation. Gil sustained a massive brain injury leading to vision and hearing loss in addition to other neurological impacts. Gil still has shrapnel in his brain which he will carry with him the rest of his life.
Gil’s recovery in itself is inspirational. He has had a second lease on life and has come back from an inability to feed himself to the point where he finds himself training for the Augusta 70.3 Ironman (C Different Foundation’s Mission Refocus) and participating in numerous Operation Rebound triathlon relays around the country doing the swim leg in open water.
I am honored to know Gil. His example of perseverance is inspiring countless injured veterans and civilians alike. Below is information about a book which will be coming out in January about Gil and his small Special Forces unit. There is already discussion about making a movie. Please share the attached flyer with all whom you know.
Thank you Gil for your ongoing service to our Nation’s heroes as you set an example of perseverance which sends shivers down my spine! I’m glad that you were the one to kick off the first leg of the VI marathon relay at this year’s CIM.
Richard Hunter
Below is information about his book, The Only Thing Worth Dying For.
www.onlythingworthdyingfor.COID
Master Sergeant Gilbert Magallanes Jr. suffered the first traumatic brain injury in the War on Terror, while on one of the war's most secretive and dangerous missions in Afghanistan during the weeks following 9/11.
He was an inspiration then, in 2001. He is an inspiration today. Read the never-before-told story of his
Special Forces A-team mission in The Only Thing Worth Dying For.
Available wherever books are sold January 2010.