Justin Bond
Sergeant, United States Army
Justin Bond served faithfully in the Army starting when he was 18 years old as a combat engineer stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. After Bond’s first duty station, he attended college for two years and when September 11th happened. Bond was glued to his TV set for 3 days watching as the world changed forever and couldn’t sit by and watch any longer. Bond joined up with a National Guard unit near his home town and received his orders for Iraq shortly thereafter. During Bond’s first tour, he was shot in a convoy attack during the battle of Fallujah. Bond was shot through the center of both knees with an AK-47 round that destroyed his left leg and severely damaged his right knee. Some 33 surgeries later, Bond decided to amputate his left leg above the knee after a long battle of trying to save it. Bond is still undergoing surgeries on his right leg as it continues to deteriorate, but he refuses to complain about even the small things in life. Bond feels fortunate to be alive after that intense fire fight which nearly took his and his fellow soldier’s lives on the morning of April 9, 2004 in the first battle of Fallujah.
Bond has three kids and a very supportive wife that he has loved since he was a boy and they are his main joys in his life and what keeps him going on a daily basis. Bond volunteers with his church and is the director for his local pathfinder club which is a coed version of boy scouts and girl scouts. Bond is also currently volunteering for a veterans group called Segs4Vets and goes around the country helping wounded veterans with their mobility issues by training and donating Segways for the veterans to use as mobility devices. Bond is also a founder of Our Heroes’ Dreams, a nonprofit which grants a wish to veterans of all generations in hopes that they will start to dream again and ultimately better themselves with a new mission in life. Bond helps his fellow veterans find that new mission. Bond has dedicated his life to his fellow brothers and sisters in arms and helps them where he can; he is devastated by the 6,500 a year that are committing suicide and feels that his program is helping to lower the suicide rate. Bond broke the world’s record for bowling and bowled 1000 games in four days without any sleep during a fundraiser for wounded veterans which provided airfare for their families to visit them as they recovered in the hospital. Bond also arranged for over 100,000 books and board games to be sent over to the recreation centers in Iraq so the soldiers had some activities in the little down time that they do get. These are just a few of the things that Bond has accomplished since he has been home. Now Bond and his friends will be crossing the country on Segway’s to raise awareness and funds while helping their brothers and sisters in arms who need help or support.
Bond has received many medals in and out of the military which include the Purple Heart as well as medals for his dedication after he was retired such as veteran of the year from the San Francisco 49ers (2010), veteran of the year for the rotary clubs of CA, and several senate, congressional, state assembly and local awards from leaders and public officials.
When Bond has a few moments of down time he enjoys spending it with his family sky diving, scuba diving, camping, going to the beach, bowling, flying planes, flying RC airplanes, watching his SF Giants and SF 49ers, playing Segway polo, and taking in round of golf here and there. He especially enjoys watching his two year old get out on the course with her little clubs and hit the ball around. Bond also likes to keep his skills sharp by going out to the range and firing his rifles and pistols off from time to time. There is nothing that Bond won’t try, including a Segway ride across America, at 10 miles an hour, in order to help out his fellow brothers and sisters, scheduled for April 2012.
The things that Sgt. Bond doesn’t like are sleep and complainers. Some of his favorite motto’s are “life is what you make it to be”, “if it doesn’t kill you, it can only make you stronger”, ”it will feel better when it quits hurting”, “I can sleep when I get to Heaven” and his favorite “it is what it is.”
