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Danielle Green

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Wounded Warrior

Danielle Green overcame her war injuries. Now she’s helping other veterans in need. 

As You Read, Think About: How has Danielle Green shown resiliency?

Bob Croslin/Getty Images for Scholastic

Danielle Green couldn’t feel anything. Her ears were ringing, and there was dust everywhere. It was May 25, 2004. Green was a military police officer in the U.S. Army.

She had been patrolling the rooftop of a police station in Baghdad, Iraq. Suddenly, an explosion from an enemy grenade knocked her off her feet.

“I thought it was like a scene from a bad movie, like I was dreaming,” Green recalls. “But then I realized no, this is real.”

As the numbness wore off, Green felt a rush of pain throughout her body. She knew she was injured but couldn’t tell how badly. 

Her fellow soldiers carried her down the stairs. She was taken by helicopter to a nearby military hospital.

Green woke up several hours later. She looked down and realized most of her left arm below the elbow was gone. 

She knew then that her military career was over. And her life would never be the same. 

Wanting to Serve

Green had been a star basketball player at the University of Notre Dame. After college, she worked as a physical education teacher and high school basketball coach. But Green had thought about serving her country since she was a kid. 

So in 2022, Green decided to join the U.S. Army. Just a few months later, the Iraq War (2003-2011) began. 

“I knew we were going to war, but I was still willing to make that sacrifice,” Green explains.

In January 2004, she was sent to serve in Iraq.

Bob Croslin/Getty Images for Scholastic 

Green stays strong so she can be a role model for her son, Daniel, who is in fourth grade.

Long Recovery

After she was injured, Green was flown back to the U.S. She spent nearly eight months at a military hospital in Maryland. She had several surgeries. The road to recovery was difficult, but Green didn’t lose hope.

After 27 years of being left-handed, Green had to learn to do everything with her right hand. That included basic tasks like tying her shoes, writing, doing her hair, and driving. 

Green was also fitted with a prosthetic left arm. It enabled her to continue playing sports. She has different attachments for playing golf, working out at the gym, riding a bike, and more. 

It took a while for Green to get used to people staring at her prosthetic arm. But then she realized that her injuries brought out what she calls her superpowers. One of the biggest is her resiliency.

“We all have superpowers that are waiting to be accessed through our unique journeys,” Green says.

Inspiring Others

As Green knows, adjusting to life after war can be difficult. That’s why she has devoted her life to helping other veterans.

Today, Green is a spokesperson for the Wounded Warrior Project. The group provides aid to veterans and their caregivers. Green travels around the country giving speeches. She hopes her story inspires other veterans—and anyone who has faced tough times.

“I want to show people that you can bounce back and you can be better than before,” she says.

What You Need to Know About Women in the Military

  • Women have served on American battlefields since the American Revolution (1775-1783). During that war, they served as nurses, cooks, and even spies.

  • During World War II (1939-1945), hundreds of thousands of women served in all-female units. They worked as test pilots, mechanics, and more. Those jobs were temporary.

  • In 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed the Women's Armed Service Integration Act. It allowed women to serve as permanent members of the armed forces for the first time.

Courtesy of Danielle Green

Green was in Iraq for about four months before she was injured. 

1. What happened in 2004 that changed Danielle Green’s life?

2. How does the author support the idea that Green’s “road to recovery was difficult”?

3. In a few sentences, summarize the section “Inspiring Others.”

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