Alive Day a bittersweet celebration for battlefield veterans
April 10 is the 10th anniversary of my Alive Day. You probably don’t have an Alive Day. That makes you lucky.
I’m lucky that I do have one.
I mean, incredibly lucky. On that day in 2012, I put my rucksack down next to the road in Afghanistan, where I was serving as a staff sergeant in the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. It was my third deployment there.
Underneath the dirt, just below the surface, was an Improvised Explosive Device, and the weight of my sack was enough to set it off — and blow me into the air while severely injuring several of my fellow soldiers. The blast was so powerful that I lost parts of both my legs and arms. Honestly, I should have died.
As I went in and out of consciousness, I was sure I was a goner. I told the medics to take care of the other guys. Why bother with me? But they saved me, one of only five quadruple amputees to survive a battlefield injury.
And suddenly I had an Alive Day — the day I almost died, but lived. It’s a new day to mark on the calendar, along with my birthday, my anniversary and the birthdays of my two children, the youngest born in the decade since I got hurt.
How do you celebrate it? Should you even know about it? Maybe it should just be a quiet day to contemplate. To say it’s bittersweet is an understatement. And that’s how it feels for the thousands of other veterans who have Alive Days. But more and more this day is becoming a day publicly acknowledged, at least by those close to you.
It’s only been a thing since Vietnam, and even then, it was very quiet because so few veterans could mark it. But battlefield medicine has improved by leaps and bounds and many soldiers like me now survive injuries that years ago would have killed them. Honestly, it’s amazing what those medics can do out in the field. But one result is that men and women need to learn to live with injuries that once would have taken their lives.
And they need to learn to live with memories.
Luckily, no one was killed when my rucksack-triggered IED went Boom! But often when you almost die, someone near you does die, so many Alive Days are sad reminders.
But I know I’m lucky to be alive even if I’m unlucky to have lost parts of all my limbs. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Dealing with basic stuff can be a real hassle some days. I mean, answering texts can be annoying.
But damn — I’m glad I’m around to get those texts.
My Alive Day was the first day of my new life, the day I got to start over again. I think I was always a pretty good guy so I’m not going to say I decided to turn over a new leaf and be kind to people. I think I was always kind to people. I surely tried to be. But I certainly appreciate a sunset more than I did before April 10, 2012. I certainly am happier to wake up every morning. I know it’s a cliche, but I truly enjoy every day, appreciate it, because of my Alive Day.
I even appreciate a sip of beer more.
Nah, I’m kidding — I always liked beer.
My Alive Day is also a time for me to remember and thank all the people who made my Alive Day possible — medics, helicopter pilots, physical therapists who taught me how to use my prosthetics and the techies who made them, my wife Kelsey who stayed with me (the handicapped parking perk helped), my children and my friends and family, really, more people than I could ever name.
And 10 years later the staff, volunteers and supporters of the Travis Mills Foundation are dedicated to helping other recalibrated veterans who can come to our lodge in Maine with their families to celebrate their lives the best they can.
When I am home today, I’ll probably have beer with my wife and hug my kids. No need for a Hallmark card congratulating me on my Alive Day. It’s different for each one of us. No simple slogan would fit each case. But if you know me and want to wish me a good Alive Day, I won’t be offended.
Just don’t text. Leave a voice message instead.
Travis Mills is the author of “Tough as They Come.” He founded the Travis Mills Foundation, which runs a camp for injured post-9/11 veterans and their families in Maine that is about to undergo a $5.7 million expansion. He recently opened White Duck Brew Pub in Winthrop, Maine.