Jason
Wittling - Iraqi Freedom PVA
Jason Wittling attained the rank of sergeant E-5 in
the U.S. Marines Corps. He served in Iraq during Operation
Iraqi Freedom. On May 8, 2003, he became injured when
the Humvee in which he was riding rolled over. Wittling
sustained a Quad C-6 spinal cord injury, and he also
lost a finger on his left hand.
After graduating from Colorado Institute of Art, he
joined the Marines in March 1994. When he was deployed
to Iraq, Wittling was assigned to the First Combat Engineers
Battalion, Charlie Company. His duties consisted of
conducting security patrols and removing Iraqi ordinance
(bombs, rockets).
He was honorably discharged after incurring his injury.
Wittling was awarded the following decorations by the
Marine Corps: Purple Heart and the CAR (Combat Action
Ribbon). A native of Park Falls, WI, Wittling, his wife
Maureen and their children Cody and Emily currently
live in Oceanside, CA.
Jason
Wittling Video
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Jody Shiflett competes in the 22nd National Veterans
Wheelchair Games (photo courtesy of the PVA).
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Veterans Day 2002: PVA Members Complete a 270-Mile
Ride Linking ‘Ground Zero’ and the Pentagon
On a bright, sunny day in September -- a little more than one year to the day after September 11, 2002 -- a moving force approached the Pentagon from an unusual direction. Leading the pack was a contingent of a few dozen handcyclists, followed by about 1,200 able-bodied bicyclists. They were all part of the “Face of America 2002” ride commemorating the victims and heroes of September 11.
The ride began on Friday, September 20 at the site of the fallen World Trade Center buildings and arrived triumphantly at the Pentagon two days later. At least two PVA members -- Artie Guerrero and Jody Shiflett -- led the 1,200 riders as they made their final approach into the Pentagon’s north parking lot.
Shiflett, who lives in Virginia Beach, VA, and is a member of PVA’s Mid-Atlantic chapter, said, “I thought the event was fulfilling for me as an individual, in that it stretched my abilities as a rider. But it was also important because we spent a lot of time reflecting on the tragedy of September 11. It meant a lot to revisit the starting and ending points of this race, where the tragic events of that day occurred.”
“I wanted to do the 270-mile ride from Ground Zero to the Pentagon for my daughter’s boyfriend, Jude Moussa and a dear friend’s brother-in-law. Jude worked for Cantor Fitzgerald and Michael Stabile worked for Euro Brokers,” stated Guerrero, who lives in Golden, CO and is a member of the Mountain States chapter. He also cited the 343 New York City firefighters, the occupants of the buildings that were attacked, and the passengers of the four jetliners that crashed as issues that motivated him to ride.
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PVA Articles
-- The above article was written by David Uchic. Re-printed with permission from the Paralyzed Veterans of America (C)2002
About Paralyzed Veterans of America
The Paralyzed Veterans of America, a congressionally chartered veterans service organization founded in 1946, has developed a unique expertise on a wide variety of issues involving the special needs of its members -- veterans of the armed forces who have experienced spinal cord injury or dysfunction.
PVA is a leading advocate for:
- Quality health care for its members,
- Research and education addressing spinal cord injury and dysfunction,
- Benefits available as a result of its members’ military service,
-
Civil rights and opportunities which maximize members' independence.
The PVA raises consciousness about the plight of paralyzed veterans through:
For more about the Paralyzed Veterans of America and how you can contribute to
the cause, visit the PVA
Website, email info@pva.org
or write:
Paralyzed Veterans of America
801 Eighteenth Street, NW
Washington, DC
20006-3517
Phone: 1-800-424-8200
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