His book is on the top of the charts. His story is extraordinary.
SFC Kapacziewki was injured by an enemy grenade on October 3rd 2005 when his element was ambushed in Northern Iraq. He suffered severe damage to his lower right leg, tissue damage to his right hip, and his brachial artery and median nerve in his right arm were severed. He spent 7 months at Walter Reed Army Medical Center undergoing limb salvage before returning to Ft. Benning, Georgia. In March 2007 SFC Kapacziewski had his leg amputated below the knee due to complications with range of motion and chronic pain. He then went to Brooke Army Medical Center for 6 months of physical therapy and learned how to walk with a prosthetic. SFC Kapacziewski’s goal after being injured was to return to a squad leader position and lead Rangers. SFC Kapacziewski re-qualified on the Ranger physical standards by conducting an Army Physical Fitness Test, 5-mile run in under 40 minutes, 12 mile road march in less than 3 hours, fast rope out of a helicopter, and parachute with a combat load. He then regained a squad leader position and was promoted to a platoon sergeant position. SFC Kapacziewski was the first Ranger to return to the line with a prosthetic and has deployed to Afghanistan 5 times with an artificial limb.
