MEMBER BREAKFAST featuring Sergeant First Class Joe Kapacziewski

Our Role Model of the Year Member Breakfast Meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 25, as we welcome Army Sergeant First Class Joe Kapacziewski to Middlesex County.  Known as “Joe Kap” by his comrades and friends, Joe is the only amputee in the history of the United States Army Rangers to return to combat.  Joe was born in Durham and was educated in Bristol. He was injured by an enemy grenade on October 3, 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 seven months at Walter Reed Army Medical Center undergoing limb salvage before returning to Fort 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 six months of physical therapy and learned how to walk with a prosthetic.  Joe’s goal after being injured was to return to a squad leader position and lead Rangers.  He 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.  Joe was the first Ranger to return to the line with a prosthetic and has deployed to Afghanistan six times with an artificial limb.  He has deployed eleven times in support of the Global War on Terrorism and has been honored with a number of awards and decorations.  We look forward to adding the Chamber’s Role Model of the Year Award to that list.  Joe Kap is the author of “Back in the Fight”, a terrific book about his amazing story.  Copies of “Back in the Fight” will be available for sale, and a book signing will be a component of the Member Breakfast Meeting.