"No place to go but up"
Army Private Phil Bauer, 32, has never been shy. In fact, his bubbly personality rarely escapes notice and never fails to entertain his TRACK classmates.
“I always made the joke that I was glorified proof that bumbles bounce,” Bauer laughed.
Even when he walks, it’s hard to imagine Bauer in any pain.
Yet, the New York native suffered unimaginable losses while stationed in Iraq – first, about 20 of his friends and peers, then his right leg, then his career.
“I had all the time in [to be a] specialist, but they didn’t want to promote an injured soldier,” Bauer said.
An enemy missile hit Bauer’s helicopter in November of 2003. After regaining consciousness, Bauer saw that he was among the minority who survived.
“Outside of Fallujah, our helicopter was hit by a surfaced air missile, and then gravity took effect, and a 150-foot bounce,” he recalled. “When I woke up, my feet were trapped.
“Much better than some of the other people. I woke up.”
Bauer’s right leg was amputated, and he suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder. The newly discharged soldier plunged into a dark period of depression.
“I had spent almost five years basically trying to destroy myself in different ways,” Bauer said. “It was just five years of turmoil and torment.”
It wasn’t until joining the TRACK program in January that Bauer recognized what he was missing.
“Having the camaraderie around with guys who have gone through the same type of stuff understand what can go on in a person’s mind after a traumatic event” has helped, Bauer said.
Bauer credits his APEX training for helping him to focus and function better under pressure. The APEX training sessions are relaxing and comforting, he said.
“From where I’ve been, there’s not place to go but up,” Bauer said. “This really opens your eyes to see that anything is possible.”