Kirstie Marie Ennis        

United States Marine Corps

E5/Sgt; 6 years

 

Kirstie joined the Marine Corps at 17 years old, after receiving her AA from college. She was trained as an airframes mechanic and aerial door gunner (.50 cal). Kirstie deployed to Afghanistan January 2011-August 2011. Then, again January 2012-June 2012. Combat meritoriously promoted to Sergeant.

While performing combat operations in the Southern Helmand Province outside of FOB NowZad, the helicopter she was manning her .50 cal crashed. June 23, 2012.

 

As a result of the crash, she sustained a left leg above the knee amputation, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, full thickness facial trauma (reconstructed) bi lateral shoulder trauma.

Kirstie’s leg has been amputated four times (last revision being November 2016). Two years of speech therapy, cognitive therapy, and vestibular therapy to treat TBI. Still currently doing physical therapy.

Kirstie has a motorcycle license for years, and rode both a Harley and dirt bike before the loss of her leg.

 

Kirstie is working on her third Masters degree and competes with Team USA. She is a firm believer in paying it forward so she is the junior director of an organization called Wounded Warrior Outdoors (not WWP). She is in hopes of being able to make enough money or to have enough time over the coming years to be able to dedicate herself to the organizations that have helped her and her brothers and sisters. “This gift would ultimately get me back to being the person I once was, with or without my leg. It would give me the confidence that I can still do everything I could with a leg.”