Lt. Col. Michael Glass gives the oath of enlistment to Staff Sgt. Daniel Acosta May 7 at Wilford Hall Medical Center on Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Sergeant Acosta, an Air Force wounded warrior, received a surprise promotion to staff sergeant, effective Nov. 1, 2008. Colonel Glass is the 59th Medical Support Squadron commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Sue Campbell)
Lt. Col. Michael Glass presents a certificate of promotion May 7 to Staff Sgt. Daniel Acosta at Wilford Hall Medical Center on Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Sergeant Acosta, an Air Force wounded warrior, received a surprise promotion to staff sergeant, effective Nov. 1, 2008. Colonel Glass is the 59th Medical Support Squadron commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Sue Campbell)
5/7/2009 - LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Staff Sgt. Daniel Acosta woke May 7 thinking he was a senior airman. He was surprised to discover that he was promoted to staff sergeant without his knowledge.
Lt. Col. Michael Glass, 59th Medical Support Squadron commander, advised Sergeant Acosta that Lt. Gen. Richard Newton, deputy chief of staff for Manpower and Personnel, approved the promotion with an effective date of Nov. 1, 2008.
"I am really happy and excited about this promotion," said Sergeant Acosta. "It was such a surprise."
Sergeant Acosta, an explosive ordnance technician from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, was injured in December 2005 by an explosion while he was deployed to Iraq. He was transported to Wilford Hall Medical Center where he has been assigned to the 59th Patient Squadron while he received medical treatment and therapy. The explosion resulted in the loss of his left arm.
"Dan has helped us forge a new path for Air Force wounded warriors," said Colonel Glass. "It was not easy for him to suffer the wounds he suffered but he pushed ahead. You can see videos and stories about him on the Air Force Wounded Warrior Web site. We owe him our thanks."
"I have met a lot of great people during my recovery process," said Sergeant Acosta, who is scheduled to retire on May 31.
For more information about Air Force wounded warriors and wounded warrior programs, access www.woundedwarrior.af.mil.
6/13/2009 11:30:46 PM ET Congratulations SSgt Acosta we all owe you a huge debt of gratitude. Best wishes in the future.
TSgt Michael Sullivan, Minot AFB ND
6/12/2009 8:12:00 PM ET This is a great heartwarming story. They took to way to long to promote a guy who obviously deserved it. but all wounded warriors deserve to be promoted just by the fact they gave all and suffered for it. I appalaud his superiors who went thru the tremendous paperwork to make this happen.
David L. Nelson, Edwards A.F.B. CA.
6/12/2009 4:43:46 PM ET Awesome We will never be able to repay this young warrior who gave so much to and for his country. He deserves much more. Thanks for your service and sacrifices and Congratulations SSgt Acosta
