About, Everything

About David J. Bixler (written with A.I.)

Corporal (Ret.) David J. Bixler is a medically retired U.S. Army artilleryman, double-amputee combat veteran, and decorated warrior.

Corporal Bixler. enlisted in the U.S. Army and served with the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, (Black Hearts), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). As a forward-deployed artilleryman in Afghanistan, he operated in some of the most volatile terrain of the Arghandab River Valley, leading partnered missions with Afghan National Army soldiers. Prior missions with the 2nd BGDE 10th MTN DIV included combat deployments to Ghazni, Afghanistan (06-07) and Baghdad, Iraq (07-09).

September 30, 2010 – The Day Everything Changed

On September 30, 2010, during a patrol through heavily mined farmland in the Arghandab River Valley, Bixler and his platoon came under heavy enemy fire. As the unit maneuvered to safety, one of the Afghan soldiers stepped off the cleared path toward uncleared ground.

Recognizing the danger instantly, Bixler ran after him and shoved the soldier back toward safety. In that split second, Bixler’s own foot landed on an improvised explosive device (IED). The blast cost him both legs, severely damaged his spinal cord, and left him with a traumatic brain injury and other life-altering wounds. His actions, however, saved the life of the Afghan soldier and protected the rest of his patrol.

In the months that followed, Bixler endured countless surgeries, often spending many hours, and days in the operating room, and began the long process of recovery and rebuilding his life.

Valor, Recognition, and Service

For his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in combat on September 30, 2010, David Bixler was awarded the Silver Star, one of America’s highest awards for valor in the face of the enemy. He was also awarded the Purple Heart in recognition of the wounds he sustained in battle.

In 2011, the United Service Organizations (USO) named him the USO Soldier of the Year, honoring not only his actions on the battlefield but also the courage and determination he showed throughout his recovery. That same year, his heroism and sacrifice were formally recognized in the United States Congressional Record, where members of Congress paid tribute to his courage, selflessness, and dedication to his fellow soldiers.

As an artilleryman, Bixler was further honored as an inductee into the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara, the historic order that recognizes members of the Field Artillery community for distinguished service.

Life After the Battlefield

Following his medical retirement from the Army, Bixler continued to live out the same ethos that carried him through war: adapt, overcome, and keep moving forward.

Organizations such as the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation and their partners helped build a specially adapted “smart home” in Maryland, designed around his injuries and his independence. The home’s accessible technology and layout restore something most people take for granted—freedom of movement, privacy, and the ability to live life on his own terms.

Today, Bixler is more than the sum of his scars and medals. He is a father, a creator, and a relentless problem-solver. He brings the same focus and discipline that carried him through combat into his post-military life—whether that’s building, designing, mentoring, or simply refusing to let adversity have the last word.

Continuing the Mission

David J. Bixler’s story is not just about what happened in a field in Afghanistan in 2010. It’s about what comes after:

• Choosing to live with purpose after catastrophic injury
• Refusing to let trauma define the limits of a life
• Honoring the friends, soldiers, and families whose sacrifices made it home possible

Through his work, creativity, and daily life, Bixler continues the mission—proving that courage doesn’t end when the uniform comes off, and that real valor is measured not only in a single act of heroism, but in how you live every day after.

About This Site

Speaking for myself, I've seen others voice their opinions, thoughts, and concerns about my past, my future, and how I live my day to day.

I wanted to share my thoughts on various topics, and express my opinion in a format that lets me speak uninterrupted, so you an see the full scope of my thoughts and interests.

This is my platform, my podium, so to speak, but you can reply in the comments, and engage with me across social media. If it's civil, even if it's criticism, I will respond in kind.