Purple Heart recipient on recovery, George W. Bush, Kentucky Derby
Daniel Casara, his wife Basia, and President George W. Bush. Photo courtesy Silks in the Bluegrass
Five Questions With…
Daniel Casara, SGT, Retired U.S. Army, is the 2017 recipient of the Operation Open Arms Hero Award. Casara will receive the award and deliver the keynote address at Silks in the Bluegrass, a Derby Eve fundraiser for the charity, which provides care and a secure home environment for children of incarcerated mothers.
In 2005, an antitank mine flipped Casara’s M-113 armored personnel carrier in Baghdad, killing two of his teammates and crushing his legs. Doctors asked Casara if he wanted to save his legs. Responding to the doctors, he replied, “Yes. I came into this world with two legs and I’m going to leave with two legs.” It has taken 24 surgeries and continued physical therapy for him to learn to walk again. In 2005, President George W. Bush awarded Casara the Purple Heart in a ceremony at the White House.
Kentucky Living:
Thank you for your service to our country. How have you managed to overcome the serious injuries you suffered in Iraq to live such a productive and inspiring life?
Casara: My injuries have been a blessing. They have allowed me to inspire others along the way to recovery. The support of my family, church, friends, and those who have been touched by my test and testimony, have made a huge impact on where I am today.
Kentucky Living:
Congratulations on your latest honor, the Operation Open Arms Hero Award. What do you plan on sharing with the audience at Silks in the Bluegrass?
Casara: Thank you. This a quite an honor. As far as what I will share with the audience, it’s hard to say right now. I won’t know until the words come out of my mouth that evening.
Kentucky Living:
The portrait painted of you by President George W. Bush has brought a lot of attention to your inspiring story. What do you think the painting reveals, and tell us about your interactions with the former president.
Casara: The portrait says that I am serious about moving forward in life. My interactions with President Bush have been uplifting, funny, and a blessing.
Kentucky Living:
Have you been to the Kentucky Derby before, and what are you looking forward to at this year’s Derby?
Casara: I have never been to the Kentucky Derby. I am looking forward to meeting all of these wonderful people and the experience that the Kentucky Derby produces.
Kentucky Living:
Finally, what advice or words of encouragement can you offer to the countless people going through physical rehabilitation right now? It can be a long, frustrating road.
Casara: The advice I have for those going through rehabilitation is, to know why you are in this position. Know that this situation is for someone else. God has put us in these situations to uplift and inspire the hearts of the minds of the people that we interact with throughout the recovery process. Never give up your fight, because your blessing is right around the corner.
