Jeremy Maddamma

U.S. Air Force

Jeremy Maddamma grew up in northeast Ohio.  Shortly following graduating high school in 1999 Jeremy enlisted into the Air Force and became a Fireman.  In 2004 Jeremy cross-trained into the Pararescue career field.

During the summer of 2012, Jeremy and his teammates deployed to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan and were tasked with executing combat search and rescue missions aboard HH-60 Pavehawk helicopters.  On the night of August 14th, 2012 a suicide bomber killed many and injured an estimated forty - local national men, women and children in the town of Zaranj, AFG.  While rescuing the injured from the mass casualty incident Jeremy was severely wounded by friendly fire.

Following the injury Jeremy and his family spent 3 years in Texas at the San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC) and the Center for the Intrepid (CFI).  During this time Jeremy underwent the process of “limb salvage”.  Through out the process Jeremy had numerous surgeries, bone infections and wore a Taylor Spatial Frame on his left leg for 22 months.  In January of 2015 Jeremy elected to have his left leg amputated above the knee.  In November of 2015 he was returned to duty as a Pararescuman in the  Air Force.  He recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinal by the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron.

Jeremy, his wife Nicole of Santa Fe, NM, and their three children live in Anchorage, Alaska.

Click the video below to hear Jeremy's story in his own words.