If you listen to or speak with U.S. Army veteran Cedric King for any length of time you’ll probably come away from the experience feeling more upbeat about life and yourself.
King, an only child, was raised by his mother and attended church, going “eight days a week.”
As a teen, King also spent time playing basketball and working. He joined the Army in 1995 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Initially an aviation operations specialist, he switched his focus to infantry and graduated from U.S. Army Ranger school.
“Growing up, you hear all these stories about Job, you hear about the great deeds and obviously, there comes a day when everything you learned is going to be tested,” he said.
King’s day of testing came on July 25, 2012, during his third deployment to Afghanistan. He and his platoon were conducting reconnaissance on a possible explosives distributor who was manufacturing improvised explosive devices. As they got closer to the location, the force of an IED blast threw King back. As a result, he sustained major internal injuries, permanent damage to his right arm and hand and the amputation of both his legs.
“Some tough days happen,” he said. “I had a really bad day at work.”
King said he was about six weeks away from coming home when he was injured.
“I used to think the loss of these legs was going to be the toughest thing,” King said. “The truth of the matter is, it all came down to how I saw it.”
King is also quick to say that positivity takes practice and is something he works on and chooses daily.
“The stone that can not be lifted must be kept,” he said. “That’s exactly what was going on in my life. These legs weren’t going to grow back.”
King said he had to make peace with that fact.
“It’s not only having a positive perspective, I had relationships with people that helped out so much,” he said. “You don’t know who is on your team until tough times hit. Faith, family and focus intersected when I needed them the most.”
Non-profit Semper Fi & America’s Fund has been a part of King’s tribe of supporters since his injury and continues to stand behind him more than a decade later. The nonprofit provides immediate financial assistance and lifetime support to the nation’s critically wounded, ill, and injured service members, veterans, and military families.
“They are just not here for the short term,” he said. “I’m telling you if anyone is wondering if the troops are being taken care of, this is the organization. They are not doing it out of pity. They are doing it because they honor the fact I raised my right hand.”
King always knew he wanted to inspire others and give them hope. He just didn’t know how that was going to play out.
“You have to be careful what you ask God for because sometimes He’ll give it to you. You just don’t know it will be like this,” he said.
Today, King works as a motivational speaker through his work as president/CEO of his public speaking company, speaking frequently to NFL, NBA, and MLB teams. He has a goal of launching a nonprofit organization that gives back to low-income communities this year. King is also the author of The Making Point.
Since his injury, King has received numerous medals and awards, including the Purple Heart. He has also finished the New York City and Boston Marathons several times and has completed a 70.3 mile half Ironman Triathlon.
“You never know what you’re capable of once you get past being afraid,” he said.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.