Green wants to be a role model for her son, Daniel, who is in fourth grade.

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A Soldier’s Sacrifice

Through hard work and determination, Danielle Green overcame her war injuries. Now she’s helping other veterans in need.

As You Read, Think About: How has Green shown resiliency?

Danielle Green couldn’t feel anything. Her ears were ringing, and dust was everywhere. It was May 25, 2004. Green was a military police officer in the U.S. Army.

She had been patrolling the rooftop of a police station in Baghdad, Iraq. Suddenly, an explosion from an enemy rocket-propelled grenade had knocked her off her feet.

“I thought it was like a scene from a bad movie, like I was dreaming,” Green recalls. “But then I realized, no, this is real.”

As the numbness wore off, she felt a rush of pain throughout her body. She knew she was injured but couldn’t tell how badly. 

Green’s fellow soldiers quickly arrived, bandaged her injuries, and carried her down the stairs. A helicopter transported her to a nearby military hospital.

Green woke up several hours later with her commanders at her bedside. They were crying. She looked down and saw why they were so upset. Most of her left arm below the elbow was gone. 

Green realized that her military career was over—and that her life would never be the same. 

Danielle Green couldn’t feel anything. Her ears were ringing. Dust was everywhere. It was May 25, 2004. Green was a military police officer in the U.S. Army.

She was in Baghdad, Iraq. She had been patrolling the rooftop of a police station. Suddenly, an enemy rocket-propelled grenade hit the station. The explosion had knocked Green off her feet. 

“I thought it was like a scene from a bad movie, like I was dreaming,” Green recalls. “But then I realized, no, this is real.”

As the numbness wore off, she felt a rush of pain throughout her body. She knew she was injured. But she couldn’t tell how badly. 

Green’s fellow soldiers quickly arrived. They bandaged her injuries and carried her down the stairs. A helicopter transported her to a nearby military hospital.

Green woke up several hours later. Her commanders were at her bedside. They were crying. She looked down and saw why they were so upset. Most of her left arm below the elbow was gone. 

Green realized that her military career was over. She also knew her life would never be the same. 

Courtesy of Danielle Green

Green scored more than 1,100 points in her career at Notre Dame.

Wanting to Serve

Growing up in Chicago, Illinois, Green had been a basketball star. She went on to play for the University of Notre Dame.

After college, she worked as a physical education teacher and high school basketball coach. But Green had thought about serving her country since she was a kid. 

So in 2002, she enlisted in the U.S. Army. The Iraq War (2003-2011) began in March of the following year. 

“I knew we were going to war, but I was still willing to make that sacrifice,” Green says.

In January 2004, she was sent to serve in Iraq.

Green grew up in Chicago, Illinois. She had been a basketball star. She went on to play for the University of Notre Dame.

After college, she worked as a physical education teacher. She was also a high school basketball coach. But Green had thought about serving her country since she was a kid. 

So in 2002, she enlisted in the U.S. Army. The Iraq War (2003-2011) began in March of the following year. 

“I knew we were going to war, but I was still willing to make that sacrifice,” Green says.

In January 2004, she was sent to serve in Iraq.

Bob Croslin/Getty Images for Scholastic

Green talks on the phone while working on her laptop. 

A Long Recovery

After she was injured, Green was flown back to the United States. She spent nearly eight months at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. She had several surgeries and faced a difficult rehabilitation.

After 27 years of being left-handed, Green had to learn to do everything with her right hand. That included tying her shoes, writing, cooking, and other everyday tasks. Though she sometimes got frustrated, she never lost hope. 

Green was fitted with a prosthesis (prahs-THEE-suhs) on her left arm. The hard plastic limb has a hook on the end. The arm has enabled Green to continue taking part in sports. She has different attachments for playing golf, working out at the gym, riding a bike, and more. 

It took a while for her to get used to people staring at her prosthetic arm. But Green says her injuries have brought out her superpowers. One of the biggest is her resiliency.

“We all have superpowers that are waiting to be accessed through our unique journeys,” Green says. 

After she was injured, Green was flown back to the United States. She spent nearly eight months in a hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. It’s called the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Green had several surgeries. And she faced a difficult rehabilitation.

Green had been left-handed for 27 years. Now she had to learn to do everything with her right hand. That included tying her shoes, writing, cooking, and other everyday tasks. Though she sometimes got frustrated, she never lost hope.  

Green was fitted with a prosthesis (prahs-THEE-suhs) on her left arm. The hard plastic limb has a hook on the end. The arm has enabled Green to continue taking part in sports. She has different attachments for the arm. For example, there’s one for playing golf and another for working out at the gym. She also has an attachment for riding a bike.

It took a while for her to get used to people staring at her prosthetic arm. But Green says her injuries have brought out her superpowers. One of the biggest is her resiliency.

“We all have superpowers that are waiting to be accessed through our unique journeys,” Green says.  

Spreading Hope

As Green knows, adjusting to life after war can be difficult. Many veterans live with wounds that aren’t physical. They may experience intense sadness or fear.

Green has devoted her life to helping other veterans. Today, she is a spokesperson for the Wounded Warrior Project. The organization provides aid to injured veterans and their families and caregivers. Green travels the country giving speeches. She hopes her story inspires other veterans—and anyone who has faced tough times.

“I want to show people that you can bounce back and you can be better than before,” she says. 

As Green knows, adjusting to life after war can be difficult. Many veterans live with wounds that aren’t physical. They may experience intense sadness or fear.

Green has devoted her life to helping other veterans. Today, she is a spokesperson for the Wounded Warrior Project. The organization provides aid to injured veterans and their families and caregivers. Green travels the country giving speeches. She hopes her story inspires other veterans. She also hopes it inspires anyone who has faced tough times. 

“I want to show people that you can bounce back and you can be better than before,” she says. 

What You Need to Know About Women in the Military

Courtesy of Danielle Green

Green (second from right) and other female soldiers in Iraq
  • American women have served on battlefields since the American Revolution (1775-1783), when they worked as nurses, cooks, and even spies.

  • During World War II (1939-1945), hundreds of thousands of women served in all-female units. Their roles ranged from test pilots and mechanics to radio operators. But those jobs were temporary.

  • In 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act. It allowed women to serve as permanent members of the armed forces for the first time.

  • Today, there are more than 234,000 women in the U.S. military. More than 1,250 women have died or been injured while serving overseas since 2001.
  • American women have served on battlefields since the American Revolution (1775-1783), when they worked as nurses, cooks, and even spies.

  • During World War II (1939-1945), hundreds of thousands of women served in all-female units. Their roles ranged from test pilots and mechanics to radio operators. But those jobs were temporary.

  • In 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act. It allowed women to serve as permanent members of the armed forces for the first time.

  • Today, there are more than 234,000 women in the U.S. military. More than 1,250 women have died or been injured while serving overseas since 2001.

1. What happened in 2004 that changed Danielle Green’s life?

2. How does the author support the idea that Green faced a difficult rehabilitation?

3. In a few sentences, summarize the section “Spreading Hope.”

1. What happened in 2004 that changed Danielle Green’s life?

2. How does the author support the idea that Green faced a difficult rehabilitation?

3. In a few sentences, summarize the section “Spreading Hope.”

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