'Trackchair': Injured U.S. Marine Gets Custom Wheelchair from Military Foundation

A nonprofit military foundation has given a custom wheelchair to a U.S. Marine who lost both of his legs after stepping on a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2011. With the help of this chair, he’ll be able to resume his favorite activities such as hunting and fishing.

According to the Washington Times, Sgt. James “Matt” Amos today received a custom-made, all-terrain “Trackchair” from Freedom Alliance in a presentation ceremony as a way to kick off Military Appreciation Month in May.

Amos was with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines during his third deployment when he was injured. His first two deployments were to Iraq. As a press release notes, Amos lost both legs, fractured his pelvis and suffered internal injuries as a result of the roadside bomb. He is now on the road to recovery after multiple surgeries and rehabilitative therapy.

The all-terrain Trackchair will allow Amos — who describes himself as “an avid hunter and fisherman” — to resume the activities he enjoys.

“My new Trackchair will allow me to move more quietly and safely through the thick brush that previously got tangled around the prosthetics and frequently caused me to fall,” he said. Amos added that the chair “will allow me to fish around embankments that otherwise would not be possible.”

“Matt Amos is a good man and an American hero who served our country on three deployments with the Marine Corps,” said Freedom Alliance President Tom Kilgannon. “This chair is a small token of our appreciation for his service and sacrifice. I hope it brings him comfort and the ability to enjoy nature and his favorite activities more easily.”