CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) At a recent meeting, the Downtown Kiwanis Club was visited by a true American hero, Chief Warrant Officer 5, Gary Linfoot, (Ret). Linfoot is retired from the 160th SOAR, (Special Operations Aviation Regiment), “Night Stalkers” at Fort Campbell.
While serving in Iraq Linfoot was the pilot aboard an AH-6 “Little Bird” helicopter and involved in a crash paralyzing him below the waist. As he began to speak he said that today he was going to share a story about a family that has overcome difficulty and met challengers head on and it was also a story of hope.
“May 31 2008 is the date that my life and the lives of my family and friends were changed forever. It’s a date that has marked my greatest challenge in life so far,” Linfoot said. Linfoot had been in the Army for over 21 years, a pilot for 19 years and had served with the Night Stalkers for over 11 years.
Around midnight while on a mission and at an altitude of around 300 feet, Linfoot described a loud explosion or pop that came from the rear of the aircraft, and all power was suddenly lost to the rotor of the helicopter.
Linfoot struggled with the aircraft, while making a mayday call and searching for somewhere to land. “We were too heavy and we were falling fast. This was going to be a very hard landing,” said Linfoot. Linfoot added, that the total time from the mechanical emergency to impact was less that ten seconds.
Linfoot said as he tried to get out of the wreckage he immediately realized that he had no feeling in his legs and feared it was a spinal cord injury. His co-pilot suffered a broken back and a concussion and was able to get out of the helicopter and was evacuated, but Linfoot had to be cut out of the aircraft by a rescue team.
At one of several hospitals on his way back to the U.S., Linfoot called his wife Mary and told her about the crash and that he was paralyzed. He said he also talked to his kids so they would know that their dad was going to be alright.
Once back in the U.S. Linfoot spent three months in recovery and rehab with his wife at his side. First at Walter Reed in Washington, in Tampa, Florida and in Atlanta Georgia.
“All the while discovering more about the injury and learning the skills we’d need to survive this new normal, this new normal being a paraplegic,” Linfoot said.
In 2010 Linfoot was medically retired from the Army with 23 years of service. It was also that year that he began working as a flight simulator instructor teaching the new aviators of the 160th.
“Mary and I have made the conscience choice to move on and live our lives to the best. We owe it not only to ourselves but to our family and friends, and we owe it to those we have lost. I’ve been given a second chance that many of my friends and fellow warriors did not get,” said Linfoot.
Linfoot is also the first military recipient of the EKSO exoskeleton which allows him more freedom of movement. He successfully completed an FDA trial of the exoskeleton which is now available to other veterans and the Veterans Administration.
He was the first paraplegic to walk around the Statue of Liberty using an exoskeleton and in April, 2015, Linfoot said for the first time since the accident he was able to stand with Mary by his side for the national anthem in front of thousands of people at an NHRA race in Bristol, Tennessee.
Linfoot offered those listening this advice for getting through life after a traumatic event. “Trust in the Lord, give thanks and remember each day is a gift. Get up every morning and find your purpose, rewrite your story if needed and discover what your why is. Why am I here, what is my purpose,” said Linfoot.
“Now we all know that bad things happen to good people. No one ever said life was going to easy. Accept the challenges of life and play the cards you’ve been dealt to the best of your ability. In the end, it will all have been worth it, and lastly, never, never quit,” Linfoot said.