Wounded Veteran Travis Mills Provides Example of Determination and Sacrifice

President of Cook Portable Warehouses, Greg Cook, often flies missions as part of Veteran’s Airlift Command, an organization that partners with corporate aircraft owners. He has participated in more than 35 flights over the years.

Aircraft owners volunteer to fly combat wounded veterans and their families to events and functions free of charge and without the difficulties airline travel presents to those with prosthetics, etc. To learn more about the organization, visit their website.

Last week, he had the honor of flying an unbelievable veteran home from a friend and fellow wounded veteran’s wedding in Iowa.

The veteran, retired United States Army staff sergeant of the 82^nd Airborne Travis Mills, served three tours in Afghanistan. He was a weapons squad leader in the 1st Platoon, Bravo Troop, 4/73rd Cavalry Squadron, 4th Brigade Combat Team.

In April 2012, he lost portions of all four limbs in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast, just days before his 25th birthday.

Against all odds he survived, thanks to his internal strength, faith and unconditional love of family and friends. Travis is one of only five quadruple amputee survivors from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

He spent months recovering and rehabilitating at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife Kelsey and daughter Chloe. While he was there, Travis met fellow quadruple amputee Taylor Morris and they formed a special bond over their shared experiences.

Taylor and his fiancée Danielle Kelly got married last week in Cedar Falls and Veteran’s Airlift Command made sure that Travis and his family were in attendance for such a special day.

Also, while recovering at the hospital, Travis developed a passion for helping other wounded servicemen and women. This led to the start of his foundation. He speaks across the county about overcoming unbelievable obstacles and surviving.

To learn more or give to the Travis Millis Foundation, a non-profit organization formed to benefit and assist injured veterans and their families, visit the website.

His motto, “never give up, never quit,” is a powerful message for enduring and persevering against all odds and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Today, he is able to mountain bike, swim, snowboard and even parachute out of an airplane with the U.S. Army Golden Knights team.

To learn more about Travis’ story, you can pre-order his book “Tough as they Come,” on Amazon. The book is set to be released on October 27.

The movie, Travis: A Soldier’s Story was the recipient of the award for Best Documentary Short at the 2014 GI Film Festival and was an Official Selection of the 2014 LifeTree Film Festival.

At Cook, we are so unbelievably grateful for the sacrifices our servicemen and women make every day for our country. Veterans like Travis provide a strong reminder of this sacrifice and dedication.

We are happy to be able to give back to such a special person through Veteran’s Airlift Command.