Warrior Games Profile - August O’Niell

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FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) --  

(Editor's Note: From September 28 to October 4, more than 40 athletes representing the Air Force will be in Colorado Springs competing in the 2014 Warrior Games. This is a profile of one of those athletes, providing a behind-the-scenes look at who they are and the sport they represent. Note: Some profile information in the graphics may be outdated due to recent birthdays or events. The most current player information is below.)

WARRIOR GAMES: PLAYER PROFILE

Name: Staff Sgt. August O’Niell 

Team: Invictus and Warrior Games
Sports: Cycling, Swimming, and Sitting Volleyball DOB: 05 Jan 1985
Birthplace: Aurora, CO
Hometown: Pembroke Pines, FL
Current Residence: San Antonio, TX
Injury: Gun shot through left knee and right calf

Personal Profile:

SSgt August O’Niell grew up spending half of his time with his mother in Stonington, Maine and with his father in Miami, Florida. He graduated from Charles W. Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida. After graduating, he began working on a yacht for about a year traveling the world. In 2006, he joined the USAF to become a Pararescueman. In December 2008, he graduated from his pipeline as a full PJ and shortly after stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada. In 2010, SSgt O’Niell was deployed to Djibouti, Africa for 5 months where he had many great experiences including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. In 2011, he was deployed to Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. Two and a half months into his deployment, 15 July 2011, he was shot through both legs while on a mission to rescue a team of Marines that were under fire and taking casualties. He was flown to Bagram, Germany then finally to Brooks Army Medical Center where he has been doing physical therapy and undergoing surgeries ever since.

Personal/Professional Achievements:

Air Force Combat Action Medal
Purple Heart
Multiple Combat Air Medals
2013 Valor Games Gold Medalist in Kayaking