Marine Corporal Casey Owens
Marine Corporal Casey Owens, during his second deployment to Iraq in 2004, was injured when his vehicle struck two anti-tank mines, which resulted in the amputation of his right leg above the knee and his left leg below the knee. After going through numerous surgeries and rehab for his physical wounds Casey began dealing with the severe emotional wounds he received as well, many of which resulted from extreme survivor’s guilt after several follow Marines in his Platoon were 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed in Iraq shortly after he was wounded. Casey, who would become a Paralympic Athlete and an advocate for the treatment of veterans, struggled with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for 10 years. Unfortunately, despite his many accomplishments, he eventually took his life.
Casey’s family donated his Marine Dress Blues and military Medals, his Boy Scout badges sash and other meaningful race and accomplishments badges to Impact A Hero. These are framed and displayed in the Impact A Hero Cpl. Casey Owens Library located at 2929 McKinney St, Houston. This special library is home to many leadership and personal development materials and books, veteran personal stories and other books authored by our heroes and patriots, all designed to impact a hero. Veteran and Active Military personnel are welcome to check out a book. In 2022, Impact A Hero expanded the libraries outreach by establishing an annex at other veteran service organization locations. In addition, we hope our website will be of helpful resource in book recommendations and will be updated on a monthly basis.
Casey Owens, a wounded Marine, salutes as his mother Janna Owens cries during the inaugural speech by President Bush. The president pledged to work to heal a country divided by the Iraq war by stating, “We have known divisions, which must be healed to move forward in great purposes, and I will strive in good faith to heal them.”