Photo courtesy of Jason Redman
By Dani Wexelman
At 10,000 feet above the earth, Jason Redman pulls his parachute open and it’s in this moment that he’s most at peace.
The Virginia native has grown to appreciate these few special seconds before landing back into the hustle and bustle of his everyday life. Redman is used to pushing the envelope. He spent 11 years as an enlisted Navy SEAL and 10 more as a SEAL Officer.
During a deployment to Fallujah in 2007, Lieutenant Junior Grade Redman and his assault team were assigned to capture an Al Qaeda High Value individual. While on this mission, his team came under heavy machine gun and small arms fire. Three shots pierced Redman’s body — two in the arm and one in the face, but he continued to defend his team, ultimately winning the fight.
Redman’s road to recovery would be unlike anything he’d face in his life. It took 37 surgeries over four years to help reconstruct his face and his arm. But the Purple Heart Recipient wasn’t looking for pity during this tough time. He hung a bright orange sign on his door to let visitors know what they could expect when they entered his room at Bethesda Naval Medical Center.
“Attention: To all who enter here, if you are coming into this room with sorrow or to feel sorry for my wounds, go elsewhere. The wound I received, I got in a job I love, doing it for people I love, supporting the freedom of a country I deeply love. I am incredibly tough and will make a full recovery.”
And Redman made good on his oath.
Photo courtesy of Jason Redman
The note went viral, inspiring wounded warriors across the nation. His words were a testament to his grit and perseverance.
After leaving the hospital, the retired U.S Navy SEAL’s positive attitude and unwavering determination led him to create the Combat Wounded Coalition (formerly Wounded Wear), a non-profit organization that strives to help combat-wounded warriors find a purpose-driven life and peace of mind after the impact of war.
“People need to know that there are a lot of combat wounded warriors out there that are struggling to find jobs, housing, and support for post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries. The Combat Coalition is helping with that,” Redman said.
Redman is no stranger to going above and beyond. He has dedicated his life’s work to helping others. Besides his non-profit, he created Jumping for a Purpose, helping veterans take a leap of faith and find the confidence to move forward in life.
“It’s a calculated risk, and what it does is it makes you focus your energy on something other than trauma.”
Redman made his 100th skydive recently, but it was about so much more than the number. Three thousand feet above earth, Redman enjoyed his moments of peace, but as he approached the drop zone, he learned that Crown Royal announced him as the winner of the “Your Hero’s Name Here” program.
They award a deserving hero the naming rights to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And Crown Royal painted “Combat Wounded Coalition” on the ground, so Redman could receive the news from afar.
“By far, it will stand out as one of the coolest things I’ve done in my life,” he said. “I thought, holy smokes, that’s the Crown Royal logo. It dawned on me in that moment what it was, and that was just the coolest thing. It was amazing. I will never forget my 100th jump.”
The race is typically named after the hero, but to no surprise, Redman requested to name it after his non-profit, which will officially be displayed in Indianapolis as “Crown Royal presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard”.
On July 24th, Redman and his family will make their way to see their charity’s name in lights, and continue to shine a light on those who make the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
