Posted on 05/09/2007 3:00:44 PM PDT by Clive
Scarborough schoolkids meet a real superhero - a Canadian Afghanistan veteran who now walks on titanium legs
By Joe Warmington
To walk a mile in Jody Mitic's shoes you have to stand on titanium.
And, like all "superheroes," have plenty of courage.
The trained sniper in the Royal Canadian Regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces showed just how much he has once again yesterday as he took a step in the right direction.
And then another.
Yes, less than five months after he stepped on a land mine in Afghanistan, blowing off both of his feet and lower legs, the 30-year-old Brampton native yesterday took his first steps outside without any assistance.
Take that, Taliban. You didn't see that coming -- just as Mitic didn't expect to be blown up so heinously. Your gutless sneak attack may have had him down. But not for long.
"I think he's actually a little taller now," teases his brother Cory of Jody's new magic legs, attached to stumps below his knees.
"If you are going to have any amputation they say the one below the knees is the good kind," Jody says with humour.
Strong kid.
For Mitic a step in any direction is amazing considering he should actually be dead or certainly wheelchair bound. But those who planned for that don't know Master Cpl. Jody Mitic.
Watch and learn. Some sixth graders, ages 11 and 12, did exactly that at Kennedy Public School in Scarborough.
They were witness to the big step in Mitic's recovery but the inspiring went both ways.
"I thought since I was coming to the school today I would leave my cane in the truck," said Mitic.
The kids inspired him.
"It felt good to walk in here without it. I had walked around in my apartment but never outside like this. Up until now I was afraid of falling.
It was the first time and other than almost (tumbling) at the door of the classroom it went well," he said laughing.
The kids with names like Jimmy, Meghan, Patrick, Kingsley, Vivien, Irvin, Milo, Ruina, Chloe were thrilled to be part of it. Real nice kids in Mr. (David) Pollard and Ms (Erika) Csombok's class.
Smart. They were right up to speed on Mitic and all of the realities of the war in Afghanistan.
And man did they have some good questions for him: "What do you think of people who say you shouldn't be there?" was one.
"How do you handle when people stare?" was another.
And the toughest was "did you kill anyone?" Mitic handled them well: "Until the job is done, you can't leave," he said, adding Canadian soldiers have helped ensure that girls can now go to school and boys are permitted to read more than just one sanctioned religious book.
On being stared at he said, "I don't worry about it." He said it happens but that's okay.
On the tougher question of being a soldier in combat and what can happen he said, "I won't answer that today but maybe when you are 18 we can meet and we can talk about it."
It was a pretty interesting day of learning for sure. It was a lesson in reality that the students have been working on for months. They called it their "superhero project". They compared what they see with Spider-Man with the kind of efforts and sacrifice soldiers like Mitic make on behalf of them.
It was their way of showing support but also at having a frank look at the world.
Mitic said he was heartened by the invite and the warm sentiment. "But I don't feel like a superhero. I am not a superhero because I stepped on a land mine," he said. "I feel I was just doing my job." It's a difficult job. He was walking in a line and the three soldiers in front of him stepped right over the trap, which was a heavy bomb just waiting for someone to step in the wrong place.
Jody was the one. When the bomb went off, his pals went into overdrive to save him. "I did my best to not go into shock for them," he said.
Soon after he was in surgery. Then airlifted to Germany. And then airlifted again to Sunnybrook hospital and then to St. John's Rehab Centre.
And yesterday he's walking again.
"I hope to be able to be able to go back," he said. "I may not be able to run around chasing the Taliban as before but maybe I could do some paperwork or help the guys get their equipment ready. It's a good goal to maybe go back. But it could take a couple of years." He actually doesn't know what the future holds. Recently engaged, he'd love to stay in the service for another 10 years and finish out a 20-year commitment if possible. He loves his country.
All of the wounded I have spoken with seem to share the same sentiment.
Capt. Wayne Johnston, who has been working on the Sapper Mike McTeague Wounded Warrior Fund to help get wounded soldiers CDs, DVDs and other time occupiers during recovery, tells me there's a tremendous amount of loyalty these men and women have to their fellow soldiers still in battle.
Every day he admires their commitment.
Jody Mitic and all of the rest of them are heroes as far as I am concerned.
And while it is true you can take away his legs he has shown it's not going to take away his ability to walk.
The students of Kennedy Public School saw that first hand in their superhero yesterday.
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It’s nice that the Canadians regard their veterans as heroes. I’d like to see more of that here in the U.S. Our casualities get the Code Pink Commies.
Great article - thanks! God bless this young soldier!
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