The Next Objective (NQM011)
"I guess the way I look at it is, yeah, I lost my arms, and I'm mostly deaf, my face is scarred to f- - -. But all of that has led to some really amazing opportunities, and I've helped a lot of people," she says. "I don't know if I could lead a happier life now." - Mary Dague
Since the war on terror kicked off over 17 years ago, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) communities across all branches of the military have carried a tremendous burden. With Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) responsible for over half of the combat casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, EOD techs are among the most highly respected professionals with some of the most demanding deployment schedules within the United States Military.
EOD is a small community. They are people that do things other people absolutely do not want to do. Well before the Secretary of Defense opened up all combat positions to women in 2016, servicewomen had been doing the frontline EOD job since the war had kicked off. Although the community is small, there are many valuable and inspiring stories that go around. The stories of Sgt Kim Voelz (above) and Sgt Mary Dague (below) would intersect many years later, due to the tremendous veteran outreach Sgt Max Voelz and Mary engage in now to help others in need, documented by NPR a few years ago.
Sgt Mary Dague was an EOD tech in the US Army when in 2007, she lost both her arms and sustained other significant injuries when an IED exploded in her arms. She had bear hugged the unstable IED after it started to roll toward the edge of the bed of her bomb truck. Her instincts told her to do just that after she realized her team-mates were inside and around the truck, wanting to protect them. After multiple surgeries and a hard-fought recovery, I can not recall if I have seen or heard anyone more positive, more full of life than Mary. Aside from the physical injuries from war, she has also been a child abuse and breast cancer survivor, and had gone through a divorce after her 2007 accident. She has been through more life changing experiences than the vast majority of people. Not only can she relate to almost anyone’s struggles, she also provides a valuable perspective on how valuable life is and how good most of us have it on a daily basis.
She emphasizes that one of the keys to recovery is the Next Objective. A goal to set your mind on and that will help you to improve yourself. Although she is a self proclaimed introvert, preferring to stay at home and play video games, she recognizes that she has a voice and that people will listen to her. She gets out of her comfort zones every day and talks to fellow veterans, and anyone in need, because her Next Objective is to help others, to bring others out of the darkness.
Mary Dague – Explosive Ordnance Disposal combat veteran – Double amputee – Breast Cancer and childhood trauma survivor – Veterans outreach
As usual, the Team Never Quit guys did a great episode with Mary, where she opens up about not one, not two, but three incredible life changing never quit stories. One thing is guaranteed by you listening to this episode, this American Patriot will shed some new perspective from her experiences that you can use to achieve more in your life. A few excerpts below:
On the first thing she asked as she woke up in the hospital: “The very first moment I woke up in the hospital in Germany, I looke down at my left arm and raised it under the blanket and said “ah that one is gone”. And I looked at the right one and said “oh god its even shorter”. I then looked over at my husband at the time, and asked is “Are all my guys ok?” And he said “Yea, its just you”. And I said “ok, I’m good”.”
If not you, it would be someone else: “You have to at least have one day where you cry and you scream and you hate the whole world, because why you? And then you need to realize, if not you, somebody else. And that’s what I did. I had that day where I just hated everything. And Right after that one day, I said no. I did this because I loved everything. I loved serving in the Army and working EOD. And I was damn sure not going to let it change me.”
On a key strategy of recovery: “You need to find something that drives you, you need to find something that will motivate you. Something that you find a passion in, and pursue that. The next objective. You need something to work towards to better yourself.”
