Wounded Marine… follow your dreams and be normal

American300 Public Affairs - 1/25/15

Cavalier Air Force Station, North Dakota -  American300 returns to this remote outpost near the Canadian border this week with special guest Sal Gonzalez, USMC Wounded Warrior.  

With less then four months of deployment behind him, Lance Corporal Sal 'Gonzo' Gonzalez,  from East Los Angeles, California, had seen his share of combat.   His team had been hit six times by everything from rocks to rockets.  For most seven is a lucky number… for Gonzo and his teammates a seventh attack by insurgents on the streets of Ramajdi Iraq was a disaster.  When the explosion's concussion dissipated, the young Marines Lieutenant was dead and Gonzo's left leg from the knee down was ruined. 

After being dusted off and flown to the states the long road to recovery began for Gonzo and his family.   While there was no saving his left leg… music ended up helping save his soul. 

"Having music as a tool for my recovery, I was able to put down and let go of a lot of pain," he said. "It kept me going. It's life. It's who I am … I want to show other warriors that it's possible to follow your dreams and be normal." 

Gonzalez will be joined by Robi Powers, host of American300's Service with Honor Never Quit Series as the two share stories of resiliency and perseverance with members of Cavalier Air Force Station and Grand Forks Air Force Base this week.   

For more on American300 Tours visit:  www.American300.org 

For more on Sal Gonzalez visit:  www.salnation.com 

American300 is a 501c3 all volunteer nonprofit which supports the Department of Defense.  No federal endorsement of sponsors or nonprofit is ever intended or implied - American300.org