Navy HM2 Derek McGinnis

Middleton, ID

Derek McGinnis enlisted in the Navy in 1995 in search of adventure, independence, and to be of service to his country.

On November 9, 2004, Hospital Corpsman Second Class McGinnis was serving with the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division in Fallujah, Iraq, when a suicide car bomber struck his ambulance. He suffered a left leg amputation above the knee, shrapnel wounds to his right eye, causing loss of vision, a collapsed lung, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

He was airlifted to Baghdad for immediate treatment before transferring to Landstuhl, Germany, for additional surgery. Stateside, he was sent to Bethesda Naval Hospital. Derek received extensive rehabilitation and physical therapy at multiple locations focused on brain injury and amputation recovery.

Derek is a proud father to Sean, Ryan, and Kyle. He works for Veterans Affairs as a case manager and is a member of Team Semper Fi.

Originally from California, Derek is choosing to build his home in Idaho to be close to family and friends.

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