Never let any difficulties hold you back in life, Sgt. 1st class Dana Bowman is a prime example.
Sgt. 1st class Dana Bowman, is a former Special Forces member and a member of the very notable Golden Knight’s parachute team, which is also how he lost his legs in a sky diving accident while training.
That didn’t hold him back, after his accident he became the first double-amputee to reenlist and since then has made thousands of jumps.
Sergeant First Class Dana Bowman has done over 4,000 parachute jumps from an airplane, and today he parachuted in with the American Flag at the Veterans Ride. https://t.co/pxzdif89qZ
— WNDU (@16NewsNow) August 11, 2020
"You know it is so exhilarating to be an inspiration to a lot of them,” he said. “Some are looking for hope. Hope for despondent, courage to the timid, and strength to the weak.” https://t.co/P8kYYkoWl8
— FOX 32 News (@fox32news) August 12, 2020
According to the Defense Department, he was the first double-amputee to reenlist, too. https://t.co/KzsgJoOWx3
— FOX6 News (@fox6now) August 12, 2020
Fox News Reported Bowman’s Jump and had this to say:
A skydiver with two prosthetic legs jumped out of an airplane to carry a huge American flag down to the 80th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota over the weekend.
Sgt. 1st Class Dana Bowman, is a former Special Forces soldier and a member of the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team, which is also how he lost his legs. He suffered the injuries in a mid-air collision during a Golden Knights training incident that left a fellow skydiver dead.
According to the Defense Department, he was the first double-amputee to reenlist.
He has 4,000 jumps under his belt, many of them after the accident, according to Black Hills Fox, a South Dakota station.
He told the outlet he does the jumps to inspire other veterans.
“You know it is so exhilarating to be an inspiration to a lot of them,” he said. “Some are looking for hope. Hope for despondent, courage to the timid, and strength to the weak.”
Dana Bowman, retired sergeant first class with the U.S. Army and well-renowned skydiver, and Tech Sgt. Trevor Veitz, U.S. Air Force Wings of Blue jump master, prepares to jump from UV-18B Twin Otter aircraft with the during the Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, practice air show, Sept. 16, 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kyle E. Gese)
His jump coincided with the arrival of the Sturgis Rally’s Veterans Ride, to help kick off the rally Friday.
The event runs until Aug. 16 and is expected to draw about 250,000 visitors amid the coronavirus pandemic – compared to about 500,000 in an average year. Still, it’s expected to become one of the largest public gatherings since the outbreak began.
Dana Bowman descends from above Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas, Sept. 17, 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kyle E. Gese)
Local officials scaled back the event, canceling city-hosted aspects and cutting spending on advertisements due to the COVID-19 crisis.
They also plan to conduct mass testing on visitors to get an idea of the virus’ impact on the rally.
Check out an awesome video of Sgt. 1st class Bowman making a jump:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHzqsNy72Tc&feature=emb_title
Kota TV also covered Bowman’s jump and had this to say:
Bikers rolled into Indian Motorcycle in Sturgis as part of the Veterans ride to help kick off the 80th Sturgis Rally. While Another veteran — who has spent a lot of time in the air — dropped in to share his story.
Sergeant First Class Dana Bowman has done over 4,000 parachute jumps from an airplane, and today he parachuted in with the American Flag at the Veterans Ride.
“Without what our warriors, veterans, or soldiers have done for us we wouldn’t have our freedom. And that’s why we’re here in Sturgis today,” Bowman said.
Despite having so many jumps under his belt, Bowman still finds jumps like these during the rally to be especially moving.
” You know it is so exhilarating to be an inspiration to a lot of them,” Bowman said. “Some are looking for hope. Hope for despondent, courage to the timid, and strength to the weak.”
Bowman himself isn’t only a vet but suffered a horrific injury while serving his country.
“Way back in 1994, I was in a mid-air collision on the Army Parachute Team, The Golden Knights,” Bowman said. “A mid-air collision that took the life of my teammate and both of my legs,” Bowman said.
With his fellow veterans there to catch the American Flag he parachuted in with before it touched the ground, Bowman is standing proud in the city of riders.
“And to be able to bring in the American Flag, you think about what our veterans have down for us, sacrificing and supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States of America it means an awful lot,” Bowman said.
Sgt. Bowman is truly an American hero, who continually show’s his support to a country he gave so much to. Veterans around the States have been inspired by his testimony.
It’s truly refreshing to see someone fly the red, white, and blue instead of burning it.
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