USMC PFC Isaac Blunt

I was born on May 21, 1991, in Ventura, California. In 1997, my family moved to Medford, Wisconsin, where I spent the next eleven years. I graduated from Medford Area Senior High School on May 20, 2009, and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps immediately afterward, serving as an Infantryman. In March 2011, I deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan.

On June 13, 2011, my life changed forever. I stepped on a pressure‑plate IED and was evacuated to Bethesda, Maryland, where I underwent the majority of my surgeries. On August 7, 2011, I was transferred to the Naval Medical Center San Diego, where I remain stationed. I am a double above‑knee amputee, and I also lost four fingers on my left hand, my left eye, and both testicles. I have completed all of my surgeries and am currently awaiting the finalization of my MED board.

Two years after the blast in Afghanistan, I was ready for a new challenge, the biggest one yet. I set my sights on Mt. Kosciuszko, the tallest peak on the Australian continent. With determination and the support of The Heroes Project, I took on the long ascent and reached the summit. Stay tuned for more stories from that journey, and visit our Facebook page for photos from the climb.