No Legs, No Vision, No Problem!

Photo Credit: White House

THE STORY OF CPL MATTHEW R. BRADFORD, USMC (RET)

As veterans, we all raised our right hands and swore an oath to our country for different reasons. By taking that oath we all chose service, and understood, at least partially, the potential dangers and sacrifices that come with serving.

But when you’ve sacrificed your legs, your vision, and all the experiences they provide, how could continuing to serve out of uniform help you heal?

Matthew Bradford, Corporal USMC Retired, has endured and persevered through the cascading effects of serving, being injured, and finding a new mission outside of the Marine Corps.

Speaking with Matthew, it’s almost impossible not to feel the enthusiasm and positivity he has for his new life and work. In Matthew’s words, “I always tell people just because I have two prosthetic legs and no vision, I still have my feet facing forward and I’ve got a 2020 outlook on life.”

Like many veterans, Matthew’s story was at least partially written by an IED blast. But he made the choice as to how to face its effects.

Losing Sight

“The last voice I heard was actually from my senior drill instructor, a platoon sergeant with QRF. He said, ‘You'll be fine Bradford.’”

Matthew goes on to further describe the terrible uncertainty of the moments following when he was hit. “I closed my eyes and I didn't know if I was alive or dead or what was going on right now because I couldn't see anything. But I could hear everything going around me.”

Matthew’s unit, Second Battalion, Third Marines, was operating in Northern Haditha and had been in nearly continuous contact with the enemy since arriving in country. 

On January 18, 2007, Matthew was walking point for his squad like he did on all their patrols. 

“I saw a white bag under the biggest tree in the palm grove and it was suspicious to me, so I tried to let everyone know. I turned back around, I looked down and there was a ditch running perpendicular to the road I was on. I saw the command wires go inside the pipe under the road — and it exploded.” 

That was the last image Matthew ever saw.

Three weeks later in Bethesda Naval Hospital Matthew was brought out of a coma and into his new reality. Coupled with learning that he had lost both legs and his vision, Matthew also learned that the Marines he loved and trusted were still in the fight.

Without his mobility, vision, or his team, Matthew was in a new kind of fight with an entirely different enemy. Himself.

Gaining Vision

“I didn’t want to survive,” Matthew said. “I didn’t eat food, so I was really, really weak. I just wanted to lay there in my hospital bed and give up.”

Even during the darkness of his recovery, Matthew’s ability to adapt the traits he learned as a Marine helped guide him. “Much of what I learned as a Marine Corps infantryman helped me through my rehab,” said Matthew. “Adapt. Overcome. Lead by example. Attitude is everything. Never quit.”

Adapting and overcoming meant working towards small goals, like going from a wheelchair to prosthetics, so Matthew could go on to greater goals, like serving other severely wounded service members.

Matthew still struggled to find out what his specific mission for life would be, he said. “But I kept bettering myself so that I could go on to better others.”

Finding the Right Path

As Matthew was adjusting to his new life, he was also learning how he could impact the people he came in contact with. “They see you, a blind guy with no legs, getting up walking and with a positive attitude. Just keep pushing on because these people are watching you,” Matthew’s physical therapist told him. 

Still, Matthew admits that he didn’t feel like his story was particularly inspiring — not until he received an e-mail from a stranger.

After happening upon one of Matthew’s social media posts, this complete stranger looked deeper into Matthew’s story.

Before reading Matthew’s story, she was going to commit suicide. Matthew’s story alone gave her the courage to fight on. His story changed her life.

“I realized God kept me alive for a reason,” said Matthew. “It’s to live that life of inspiration and motivation. To inspire others and encourage others to go out and live their life to the fullest.”

Leading by Example

In 2011, after being the first blind, double amputee to reenlist in the Marine Corps, Matthew was back in Iraq. This time on a closure trip with Operation Proper Exit. 

As Matthew listened to his American flag whip in the wind over one of Saddam’s palaces he realized, “I can serve in uniform, but I can also serve out of uniform.”

In 2012 Matthew retired from the Marine Corps on his own terms, not being forced to medically retire.  After his return trip to Iraq he realized he could no longer serve in uniform the way he wanted too, which was to deploy. He knew he could continue to serve without the uniform so he focused on graduating from the University of Kentucky with two degrees and his job working as the National Security Fellow serving the Veterans living in the 6th District in his home state of Kentucky. 

Now, Matthew works full time inspiring civilians and veterans through public speaking, taking on physical challenges like the Bataan Death March or climbing Mount Rainer, and his social media account, #NoLegsNoVisionNoProblem.

“I’m going to inspire one person a day,” Matthew says. “That’s the reason why God kept me alive — that’s my mission in life.

For other veterans Matthew’s story and work have a separate message.

“We're not serving in uniform or being deployed,” said Matthew. “But we can serve those around us with stories, inspiration, motivation, and encouragement.”

To follow Matthew and learn more, visit www.matthew-bradford.com.

Authored by Daniel Jones. Daniel joined the Marine Corps Reserves in 2005 while attending the Virginia Military Institute. As a Combat Engineer with Bravo Co. 4th CEB, he deployed to Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2010. He was medically retired in 2014 following injuries sustained from an IED blast in Afghanistan. Currently he is living in Richmond, VA and working in the forestry industry while exploring a writing career.

Editor: Jessie Kwak. Jessie is a freelance writer living in Portland, Oregon. She works in partnership with The Storied Future and is a published fiction author and B2B copywriter. Jessie provides ghostwriting and editorial services for business consultants, entrepreneurs, CEOs, and thought leaders.