Triumph in the Mundane

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    Peeling potatoes has long been considered a chore in the Army reserved for a Soldier who had screwed up. For an amputee who has just regained use of his second hand, however, a task like peeling carrots takes on a unique magic. Mr. Fred Downs is a Veteran of the Vietnam War who lost his left arm to a landmine. He helped DARPA test out the DEKA Arm System and offered valuable feedback on how to refine it to best serve amputees. The arm was developed under DARPA's Revolutionizing Prosthetics program. On May 9, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the DEKA Arm, meaning that the developer, DEKA Integrated Solutions, can now pursue manufacturing and commercial opportunities to bring the arm to market. This milestone represents just part of DARPA's commitment to standing by and enabling Service members. For more information, please see: http://www.darpa.mil/NewsEvents/Releases/2014/05/09a.aspx