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After living through the events of Sept. 11, 2001, Shilo Harris made the decision to join the military.”I mean, they attacked our nation. I felt like I needed to do it,” Harris said.He knew the risks that came with serving.”I knew that it was going to be dangerous, but it was something that I was willing to do because I knew it was the right thing to do,” he said.Harris later deployed to Iraq. Six years after deciding to enlist, he experienced firsthand just how dangerous that decision could be.”I got blown up, and I lost three friends that day, and that’s the most challenging part of it all,” he said.An improvised explosive device struck his vehicle, killing everyone else inside. Harris survived, but with severe injuries, including third-degree burns, and the loss of his ears, the tip of his nose and multiple fingers.”I was evacuated off the battlefield. I was medically induced into a coma that I spent about 50 days in,” Harris said. “Honestly, that first two years of recovery was a bit of a daze because I was so heavily medicated.”Harris spent three more years in the military, undergoing surgery after surgery, before medically retiring in 2010.A retirement he once imagined would be quiet.”Sitting on the front porch, drinking iced tea, going hunting, going fishing,” he said.But instead, Harris chose a different path — giving back by sharing his story.”We want to encourage every audience to go out there and live their lives to the fullest and know that they’re capable of doing anything,” he said.Now, more than 80 surgeries later, Harris continues to push forward.”I had to keep telling myself, ‘You’re strong, so you can do this,'” he said.Today, he shares that strength with others, including those at the DJ’s Hero Awards Luncheon in Omaha.”Life is challenging. It’s full of challenges. It’s all in how you roll with it,” Harris said.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
After living through the events of Sept. 11, 2001, Shilo Harris made the decision to join the military.
“I mean, they attacked our nation. I felt like I needed to do it,” Harris said.
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He knew the risks that came with serving.
“I knew that it was going to be dangerous, but it was something that I was willing to do because I knew it was the right thing to do,” he said.
Harris later deployed to Iraq. Six years after deciding to enlist, he experienced firsthand just how dangerous that decision could be.
“I got blown up, and I lost three friends that day, and that’s the most challenging part of it all,” he said.
An improvised explosive device struck his vehicle, killing everyone else inside. Harris survived, but with severe injuries, including third-degree burns, and the loss of his ears, the tip of his nose and multiple fingers.
“I was evacuated off the battlefield. I was medically induced into a coma that I spent about 50 days in,” Harris said. “Honestly, that first two years of recovery was a bit of a daze because I was so heavily medicated.”
Harris spent three more years in the military, undergoing surgery after surgery, before medically retiring in 2010.
A retirement he once imagined would be quiet.
“Sitting on the front porch, drinking iced tea, going hunting, going fishing,” he said.
But instead, Harris chose a different path — giving back by sharing his story.
“We want to encourage every audience to go out there and live their lives to the fullest and know that they’re capable of doing anything,” he said.
Now, more than 80 surgeries later, Harris continues to push forward.
“I had to keep telling myself, ‘You’re strong, so you can do this,'” he said.
Today, he shares that strength with others, including those at the DJ’s Hero Awards Luncheon in Omaha.
“Life is challenging. It’s full of challenges. It’s all in how you roll with it,” Harris said.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
