'One-legged Warrior of Ashoqeh'

The spirit, determination, and sheer guts of today's soldiers never ceases to amaze and impress. I know much has been written and said about how this current generation of Americans just doesn't have the same gumption as those of previous generations, but then along comes a story like this to prove that maybe, just maybe we ain't in as bad a shape as we think. Granted the military is naturally going to attract a different breed of person anyway just by the very nature of the deadly serious business they are engaged in, but still you have to revel in the intestinal fortitude of an individual like now CPT Dan Luckett.

Long story short. While serving in Iraq his HMMV was hit by an VIED, the type that is tied to Iran, which severed the toes of one foot and amputated one leg. CPT Dan is back on active duty, and not only on duty but serving in Afghanistan and performing his duties.

Capt. Brant Auge, Luckett's 30-year-old company commander, said Luckett was as capable as every soldier in his company, and treated no different.

"He's a soldier who just happens to be missing a leg," said Auge, who is from Ocean Springs, Mississippi. "He tries to play it down as much as possible, he doesn't like to bring a lot of attention to it."

On one of those early patrols, Luckett took to a knee and his pants leg rode up a little bit, revealing the prosthetic limb to a shocked group of Afghan soldiers nearby, Auge said. One gave him the nickname, the "One-legged Warrior of Ashoqeh."