Brian Kolfage is the epitome of a true American hero with a spirit never said to die for the vicissitudes of life. He’s been through thick and thin but still wears a smile every time you see him. Kolfage is a United States Air Force veteran, a triple amputee, and the most seriously injured airman in history. He is also the first injured casualty to receive the fastest medical evacuation from a war zone in the United States.
His life turned around in Balad, Iraq on September 11, 2004, in an unfortunate circumstance where he lost 3 limbs. This loss marks a new beginning in Kolfage’s life; career, relationship and general public perception of who he is. It was the same man who at one point was about to die. Today it is still alive and still bubbling with life. Here’s everything you need to know about this veteran from a young age.
Brian Kolfage – Biography
Brian Kolfage was born in Detroit, Michigan on September 21, 1982. He lived his early years in Detroit before settling in Waikiki, Hawaii after his father separated when he was 13 years old. Brian spent the rest of his teenage years in Hawaii and it’s been on from there. that he joined the United States Air Force in 2001.
His military service began with his posting to Goodfellow Air Force Base in the 17th Security Forces Squadron. Over time, Brian was deployed to serve in Kuwait in 2003 after which he completed his second deployment in 2004. He was deployed to serve in Balad Air Base in Iraq. On the afternoon of September 11, 2004, a 107mm rocket shell exploded 3 feet from where Kolfage had gone to get water. It became the last day Airman Brian Kolfage used both legs and his right hand.
He suffered life-threatening injuries, the impact of the blast on him being so severe that he was thrown through the air before he landed on a wall of sandbags. Still conscious but very close to death, he mustered the strength to quickly call for help, which soon came from other airmen in the nearest tent. Kolfage described the pain he was feeling as the worst he had ever felt: from the knee to the floor he felt liquefied and he thought there was a huge chance he was going to die any moment now. other. Brian could not receive any pain medication as he had lost a lot of blood and any pain medication given would quickly kill him. L’
Once stabilized, he was transferred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center 36 hours after the attack. He was placed in a medically induced coma for 4 days. Two months later, he was discharged from hospital and embarked on an eleven-month journey of rehabilitation, followed by follow-up surgeries.
After recovering, he had to move on to lifeand decided to move to the city of Tuscon in Arizona. There he obtained a non-military position at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base as the base security officer. Brian Kolfage worked for two years in Air Force installations and was always determined to get the most out of his life. He enrolled at the University of Arizona to study architecture with the help of the Pat Tillman Foundation. He graduated from school in 2014, but while there, he reconnected with his high school crush.
Woman, children
Brian Kolfage reconnected with Ashley Goetz nowAshley Kolfage on Facebook. Ashley had just graduated and was in Texas. He talked to her on Facebook and they rekindled their friendship. When Ashley went to see him, she met a man who, despite so much suffering in life, still had a lot of positive outlook. They both realized that they didn’t want to be separated from each other anymore. Two years later, Ashley became Mrs. Kolfage on May 28, 2011, and each went on to pursue careers in architecture (Brian) and teaching (Ashley). Today’s duo are fathers of two and live happily together.
Other Facts You Should Know About Him
- Brian Kolfage received a Purple Heart after his injuries, ending his military career.
- After recovering, the former aviator began talking about his experience and was even a special guest during former President Barrack Obama’s State of the Union address in 2012.
- He launched a GoFundMe campaign called “We the People Will Fund The Wall,” in support of President Donald Trump’s US-Mexico border wall. The campaign was targeting $1 billion, and within three days of its launch, it raised more than $9 million.
- Brian and his family live in a vacation home built by the Gary Sinise Foundation. Gary Sinise was brought to contact him after hearing his story at a Skyball event in 2011. When Gary asked him to approach the foundation to enable him to build a house to suit his needs, he said at first refused, but 2 or 3 years later. later, after having their first child, the demands of being a parent began to speak to her given her condition. He reconsidered Gary’s offer, and in 2016 they moved into their spacious new home.