21 US service members and veterans at the 2020 Paralympics

This article by Hannah Ray Lambert was originally published by Coffee or Die.

The delayed Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are underway, and nearly two dozen veterans and active-duty service members are among the athletes representing the United States.

Team USA wore masks and waved to a mostly empty stadium during the opening ceremony Tuesday, Aug. 24, a reminder of the strict pandemic countermeasures still in place. The 240-athlete team includes 18 veterans and three active-duty soldiers.

Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Marks, a swimmer, is competing in four events at the 2020 Summer Paralympic Games. Marks is a two-time Paralympic medalist and a member of the Army’s World Class Athlete Program.

Staff Sgt. John Wayne Joss III will shoot the 50-meter rifle prone. A combat injury in 2007 resulted in the amputation of Joss’ lower right leg, but he discovered the Army shooting team in 2011 and has gone on to compete in four World Cups.

Also competing in the 50-meter rifle prone, as well as the 10-meter air rifle prone, is Staff Sgt. Kevin Nguyen. This is Nguyen’s Paralympic debut after losing part of his leg to an improvised explosive device blast in Afghanistan.

Of the veterans, four athletes served in the Navy, 11 served in the Army, one served in the Air Force, and two served in the Marine Corps.

Navy veteran Will Groulx is a five-time Paralympian, appearing in every Summer Games since 2004. Groulx originally competed in wheelchair rugby after a motorcycle accident left him paralyzed from the chest down, but he switched to road cycling in the 2016 Rio Games and took home two medals.

2020 paralympic games — Navy veteran Will Groulx rolls into position to defend against the Great Britain team during a rugby match at the Paralympic Games in London Sept. 5, 2012. US Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Sean M. Worrell.

Navy vet Andre Shelby and Army veteran Lia Coryell are among the Team USA archers gearing up for the ranking rounds later this week. This is the second Paralympic appearance for both archers.

See the full list of veterans below.

Lia Coryell, Army – archery
Andre Shelby, Navy – archery
Tom Davis, Army – cycling
Freddie De Los Santos, Army – cycling
Will Groulx, Navy – cycling
Shawn Morelli, Army – cycling
Eric Ryan Pinney, Air Force – cycling
Monica Sereda, Army – cycling
Kelly Elmlinger, Army – paratriathlon
Eric McElvenny, Marine Corps – paratriathlon
Bradley Snyder, Navy – paratriathlon
Melissa Stockwell, Army – paratriathlon
Russell Gernaat, Navy – rowing
Michael Gallardo, Army – track and field
Luis Puertas, Army – track and field
Scot Severn, Army – track and field
Terry Hayes, Army – wheelchair fencing
Raymond Hennagir, Marine Corps – wheelchair rugby

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Coffee or Die

Coffee or Die Magazine is Black Rifle Coffee Company’s online news and lifestyle magazine. Launched in June 2018, the magazine covers stories both about and for the military, first responder, veteran, and coffee enthusiast communities.

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