Corporal earns medals on road to DOD Warrior Games

By Shannon CollinsMay 20, 2015

Corporal earns medals on road to DOD Warrior Games
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Corporal earns medals on road to DOD Warrior Games
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FORT MEADE, Md. (May 13, 2015) -- A corporal, who works as an adaptive reconditioning program assistant on Fort Campbell, Kentucky, swam and shot compound archery, seated shot put and discus to earn her spot on the Army team for the DOD Warrior Games.

Cpl. Jasmine Perry earned four medals in swimming and one in archery during the Army Trials on Fort Bliss, Texas, March 29 - April 2. She earned silver medals in the women's 50-meter freestyle classified swimming, 50-meter backstroke classified, 50-meter breaststroke classified and 100-meter freestyle classified and a bronze medal in women's compound archery.

During the 2012 Warrior Games, she earned a bronze medal in the 50-meter backstroke, 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter freestyle. In the 2011 Warrior Games, she earned a gold medal in seated shot put.

Perry said she has always been competitive, having played basketball, softball and soccer in high school. She played basketball in college. In May 2005, she was injured during a training exercise on Fort Carson, Colorado, and during a year of more than 13 operations, she had to make the decision of whether she wanted to have her left leg amputated.

"The hardest part for me was dealing with the limb, the year in between," she said. "Once my amputation was done, I got fitted with my first prosthetic on a Thursday. That Saturday, I was at a park playing basketball. I had to make that decision; it's a mental decision. I haven't complained once since it's been amputated."

Perry said her amputation has made her more resilient.

"It's just built me up mentally," she said. "Mentally, I can handle just about anything. It humbles you. It tests your character. It shows what type of person you really are and how you will overcome."

Perry said she joined the Army to carry on the family tradition. She was born on Fort Campbell while both of her parents were serving in the Army. She has been in for 10 years. She said her family is proud of her and they motivate her.

"My mom tells everybody I won the Olympics," Perry said with a smile. "She's very proud. As far as motivation, I mainly keep my papaw in my head. He passed away years ago, but I'm always trying to make him proud, even if he's no longer here. I pray a lot, especially for swimming. I'm constantly saying, 'Lord, give me strength, maybe not to win, but just to finish.'"

Her coach, Glen O'Sullivan, said she came to swim later in the training session before the trials but she "showed great improvement and a willingness to try."

Her swimming mentor, Elizabeth Wasil, said, "Jasmine is a true teammate and Soldier."

Perry will compete in compound archery, seated shot put and discus, wheelchair basketball and swimming during the DOD Warrior Games on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, June 19-28.

Related Links:

Army News Service

Army.mil: Human Interest News

Army.mil: Soldier for Life

2015 Department of Defense Warrior Games