Marine Corps Second Lieutenant Andrew Kinard will be speaking at Iona College in New Rochelle on Wednesday, March 21 at 6:00 pm. The location is the Burke Lounge in Spellman Hall. Kinard will speak on his experiences fighting in Iraq and living as a double amputee and current student at Harvard.
The event is sponsored by Students United for Veterans.
Read more about Andrew Kinard here.
Andrew Kinard, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, deployed to the Al Anbar province of Iraq in 2006 as an infantry platoon commander. While leading a team of Marines on a routine foot patrol, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded directly under his feet.
The damage resulted in the amputation of both of his legs at the hip. He suffered massive wounds to his abdomen and was in a coma for a month. In all, he endured more than 70 surgeries, as well as a year and half of physical rehabilitation. It was during his lengthy recovery that he resolved to overcome his difficult circumstances and impact the world in a meaningful way.
While awaiting medical retirement from the Marine Corps, Mr. Kinard interned in the Office of Legislative Counsel at the Pentagon and served as a military fellow in the office of a United States Senator. Since retirement, Andrew has served on the board of directors of Wounded Warrior Project, a national charity that seeks to honor and empower veterans disabled in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is currently completing a joint degree from Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School.
Mr. Kinard’s awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Navy Achievement Medal with Combat “V,” and the Combat Action Ribbon, among others.
One million times over, Thank you for your service
I read this twice and want to extend my deepest Thanks and sincere gratitude to Andrew Kinard for his service to our country. He is a power of example, a true patriot and warrior. I hope that what he has to say resonates in the hearts and minds of all who get to hear his story. He won’t be off my mind any time soon. God Bless Andrew and the thousands who fight for our freedom. Semper Fi.