Cpl. Jeremy Stengel completed Marine Corps Boot Camp in 2004 and went to the School of Infantry where he learned to become a machine gunner. After graduation in 2005, his unit was deployed to Afghanistan and later returned home from a successful deployment in January, 2006. After a month of leave, he began training with his unit to go to Iraq and was deployed in September, 2006.
On January 31, 2007, Cpl. Stengel was deployed on a roadside bomb-sweeping mission in the area of operations a pressure plate IED hit Stengel’s Humvee. The explosion launched Cpl. Stengel 35 yards away from the Humvee. The driver sustained 3rd degree burns over 80% of his body and the blast took the lives of Navy Corpsman Doc Matthew Conte and Platoon Sgt. Gunnery Sergeant Terry Elliot. Cpl. Stengel was medevac to Al Asad Air Force Base, then flown to Lanshutel, Germany where he was induced into a medicated coma, and then was flown to the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland where he stayed in the coma for nine weeks.
After the nine weeks in intensive care, he was moved to the surgical ward with doctors giving him a 10% chance of survival. Cpl. Stengel suffered an amputation to his left leg below the knee, broken left femur, broken right foot with nerve and muscle damage in his lower right leg, massive internal injuries, an extensive broken back that required 6-inch rods and screws, a traumatic brain injury, and several shrapnel wounds.
After six months at the Naval Hospital, Cpl. Stengel was transferred to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to receive his new leg and amputation care. After 4.5 years of rehabilitation in Washington, DC, Cpl. Stengel returned home to Wisconsin.
This story comes from Bob Burns, PGA Master Professional, of Bob Burns Golf here in Grand Chute. Bob began instructing Jeremy on his golf game, like many other veterans. Bob worked with Jeremy with his balance while swinging the club and trying to shift his weight. Bob instructed Jeremy on his stance, swing, and all aspects of the golf game. Bob has given his golf expertise instruction to many veterans like Jeremy over the years and continues to give golf lessons to all ages and abilities. See https://www.bobburnsgolf.com website for more information on Bob Burn’s golf instruction with other veterans.
