Founder of Wounded Warriors Retires

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.  — The crowd rises and applauds him one final time, their praise echoes throughout the hall. Each person wears a smile or grin on their face but there he stands stoic, holding his emotions behind a stone face. For those in crowd who knows of his incredible journey they can’t help but let their emotions flow.

Lt. Col. Timothy Maxwell, one of the founders of the Wounded Warrior Regiment, retired after 22 years of dedicated service on June 26 at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

Maxwell deployed six times and on his final deployment, in Iraq, he suffered a severe traumatic brain injury October 7, 2004, when his forward operating base was hit by a mortar. Shrapnel tore though the left side of his brain.

While recuperating he found his recovery was made easier when he was around other wounded warriors. He began advocating for wounded warriors and their families and worked diligently to establish the Wounded Warrior Barracks.

After all he has accomplished, Maxwell feels its time to step down.

"I’ve decided its time to go because a year ago I went for surgery to pull out piece of shrapnel near my brain stem, said Maxwell. "It crippled me on my right side. Now I can’t represent the Marine Corps like I should. Marines are known for looking good in their uniform and when I can’t look good in my camies it’s time to go."

"[Assistant Commandant] General Amos approved the idea, Col. Kelly (a friend and fellow WW advocate with Maxwell) was the one who developed the idea, but it was Lt. Col. Maxwell who planted the seed for the Wounded Warrior Regiment," said Lt. Col. David J. Lofgren, the Executive Officer for the Wounded Warrior Regiment. "He got the wounded warriors together so they can heal together. The worst thing for a wounded warrior is the isolation. You feel like you’re sandbagging it when the rest of your unit is out there fighting."

At the Wounded Warrior Barracks we are able see most of the problems people have so we can fix and prevent them from happening again, said Lofgren.

"There are 10,000 plus people who can attest to how the [Wounded Warrior] Regiment has affected them positively," said Master Sgt. Kenneth R. Barnes, a Staff NCO for WWR. "Those guys would have been lost without Lt. Col. Maxwell."

"He’s iconic because he has been severely injured – his wounds are visible," said Laughlin. "People know him and what he has done. He’s a real person to relate to. He’s a walking miracle."

"The biggest hero of my life," said Barnes. "It amazes me the way he has fought and persevered and still coming up with great ideas."

"His legacy is the barracks and that Marines get taken care of," said Lofgren. "Marines won’t fall through the cracks – we’ll get a hold of them."

"His legacy is not stopping now," said Barnes. "The Wounded Warrior Regiment will always have his name on it."

Maxwell’s job is not complete. He has more goals for wounded warriors everywhere.

"I want to expand it to the entire DOD," said Maxwell. "The solutions are out there. The problem is that wounded guys don’t know about it. I have to spread the word."

"I would like to be an advisor outside of the Marine Corps for Wounded Warriors," said Maxwell. "I’m still trying to find a way to make it work exactly."

Maxwell left everyone at the retirement ceremony with on final message. "Do me a favor and don’t frown on me – don’t feel sorry for me. It is what it is."