The sister and college roommate of the late actor James Gandolfini, right, accept an award on his behalf during the GI Film Festival Salute to Hollywood Patriots night May 23 at the Old Town Theatre. Photo by Jeanne Theismann.
In the weeks leading up to the 2014 GI Film Festival, the buzz was all about actor and veterans advocate Gary Sinise appearing at the May 23 Salute to Hollywood Patriots night at the Old Town Theatre in Alexandria. But by the end of the evening, it was Army Staff Sergeant and quadruple amputee Travis Mills that left everyone star struck.
“What an inspiring individual,” said Clifton resident and retired U.S. Air Force veteran Bill Craig. “It was a real honor to meet Travis and hear his story of defying the odds to survive.”
After nearly dying on an Afghanistan battlefield, Mills walked the red carpet to attend a screening of “Travis: A Soldier's Story,” a documentary that details his story as one of only five quadruple amputees to survive from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Don't feel sorry for me,” Mills told a mesmerized crowd following a screening of the film at the Old Town Theatre. “I just want to be normal.”
A member of the 82nd Airborne, Mills lost portions of both arms and legs as the result of an IED explosion on April 12, 2012, during his third combat deployment to Afghanistan. It was his 23rd birthday.
“I hope this documentary is inspiring, not only for other wounded soldiers but for everyone struggling with obstacles in their lives,” Mills said. “It's about perseverance and challenging ourselves to look at the way we deal with our own personal trials in life.”
At the time of his injury, Mills and his wife Kelsey's daughter Chloe was just 7 months old.
“I'm still getting goose bumps when I tell my family and friends about Travis and his story,” said Carol Craig. “I'm in awe of what he has accomplished in such a short amount of time. He is such an inspiration. I think everyone needs to see that film and hear his story.”
Joining Mills and Sinise on stage were U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno and the sister and college roommate of the late actor James Gandolfini, who was presented with the GI Film Festival Spirit Award for his work profiling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the documentary “Wartorn.”
But in the end it was Mills that had everyone talking.
“I was a real honor meeting Travis Mills,” said Adnan Hamidi, who attended the event with his wife Kathy and 12-year-old son Josh. “Because of him, my son saw firsthand that no obstacle is big enough to stand in your way when you want something bad enough. Travis Mills, we all salute you.”