Retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne, one of only five quadruple-amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his injuries, will return to Quinnipiac University on Tuesday, Nov. 5, to share his story of recovery, rehabilitation and courage. His talk, which is free and open to the public, will start at 5 p.m. in MNH 101 at the Center for Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, 370 Bassett Road.
Mills lost portions of both his arms and legs in 2012 when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off while he was on patrol during his third tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Now a recalibrated warrior, motivational speaker, actor, author and advocate for veterans and amputees, Mills travels around the country to discuss how he has overcome life’s challenges, breaking physical barriers and defying the odds by adhering to his motto: “Never give up. Never Quit.”
Mills will share his story through excerpts of Fotolanthropy’s award-winning documentary, “Travis: A Soldier’s Story,” and his New York Times best-selling autobiography, “Tough as They Come.”
Erica Mumm, assistant professor of nursing, is chair of Quinnipiac’s Joining Forces Committee, a cohort of faculty, staff and students from the School of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, School of Law and the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs. The Joining Forces Committee invited Mills back to Quinnipiac after his successful visit in 2014.
“Mills’ demeanor and outlook will motivate and inspire us to overcome our perception of difficulties that stand in our way,” Mumm said.
In 2013, Mills and his wife Kelsey founded the Travis Mills Foundation, a nonprofit organization that assists post-9/11 veterans who have been injured serving their country.
To register, please write to Erica.Mumm@qu.edu.