Two weeks after September 11, 2001, Randy Nantz was 33 years old, living in Farmer’s Branch and knew it was ‘now or never’ as he was getting close to the cutoff for Army recruits at 35. So he joined, thinking his background as an EMT would be helpful.

Five years and several promotions later, Nantz was a green beret, patrolling in Baghdad.

“I was in special operations and I was on an Operational Detachment Alpha, which is the guys out doing all the work right, and we had a target coming up.”

He says his truck – an M1151 Humvee — was hit by a copper weapon that heats up quickly, allowing it to penetrate the vehicle, and then explode. He had inhalation wounds and his hands were burnt, but his legs – sprayed with fuel — got the worst of it.

“My legs went from like nothing to like lighting a matchstick. But I was lucky to survive it – most of the time that kind of weapon cuts people in half.”

He was helped into the green zone, and had the first of many surgeries. One leg recovered, but the other had severe nerve damage, and it was amputated below the knee.

“When I when I woke up, it was like five days later and I was now in the burn unit in San Antonio, TX.”

Recovery felt slow and alienating.

“I still remember to this day how weird it was that I had to pick my legs up in bed and move them with my hands. It’s also very scary, thought I thought, man, you know, is this what it’s going to be like?”

Despite extensive damage to his legs, buttocks, and lower back, in just six months he went from lying in his bed to using a wheelchair and then a walker. He relearned to walk. And while he didn’t go back to active duty, he took a job at Special Operations Command, AKA, SOCOM in Tampa, Florida. That’s where he finished his career – retiring from the Army in 2012.

Originally from Texas, and having spent time in the Dallas area throughout his life, he chose to return. This time around he’s found a new love for the outdoors.

“The Dallas area has pretty much anything you want to do. Whether it be trails, car clubs, golfing. We even have the rodeo in Fort Worth,” says Nantz.

He’s also continuing to use his experience to help others by getting involved in organizations like the Adaptive Training Foundation.

Started in 2014 by an ex-NFL player and a U.S. Staff Sergeant who was also a quadruple amputee, the ATF offers free coaching to veterans, civilians, people born with impairments and people with degenerative diseases. Also in Dallas is UTSW — home to the Adaptive Sports Coalition, which connects people with opportunities to stay healthy and active through Para sports.

From his quick rise through the ranks to Sergeant First Class, surviving and thriving after being blown up in Baghdad, now part of a diverse community that takes advantage of all the Dallas Region has to offer, Randy Nantz continues saying yes to life, and yes to Dallas.