Jason Redman

Lieutenant Jason C. Redman (Ret.) is a former U.S. Navy SEAL. He is the founder and spokesperson of the nonprofit organization Wounded Wear, and the author of the memoir The Trident: The Forging and Reforging of a Navy SEAL Officer.

Redman was born in southern central Ohio. He grew up in North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Redman comes from a military family. His paternal grandfather flew B-24 planes in World War II and was highly decorated. His great uncle was shot down in the Pacific during the early years of WWII. Redman's sister is a United States Air Force officer and his brother is a Marine. His father was an Army Airborne instructor, airborne rigger, and jumpmaster during the Vietnam War. From an early age, Redman knew he wanted to serve.

He attended Lumberton High School in North Carolina.

Redman graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and honors in Business Administration from Old Dominion University.

Military

On September 11, 1992, at the age of seventeen, Redman enlisted in the United States Navy. In 1996, Redman earned his SEAL Trident. By 2000, he had risen to the title of Petty Officer First Class. In December 2000, he was an instructor for SEAL Team's Basic Land Warfare block of training. For a year and a half, he taught Marksmanship, Reconnaissance, Surveillance operations, and Advanced Communications. Shortly after, Redman was selected as one of the 50 enlisted personnel in the Navy to participate in the Seaman to Admiral program, which would put him on the "officer track."

In May 2004, he was commissioned a Naval Special Warfare Officer. The next year he was deployed to Afghanistan then Iraq. Redman has also served the US in Colombia and Peru. In 2006, he graduated from the U.S. Army Ranger School. The next year, Redman was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq.

After 21 years in the US Navy, Redman retired in 2013.

Fallujah, Iraq

During a special operative mission, Redman was struck by machine gun fire. It first hit him in the left elbow, then in the right side of his face, entering his jaw and exiting through his nose. At the time he was acting as the Assault Force Commander. Their mission was to capture a "high-value Al-Qaeda operative." In all, Redman was shot seven times to the face and arms.

Recovery

Lt. Redman arrived to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland on September 16, 2007. As of 2012, he had to undergo 37 surgeries, and required 1,200 stitches, 200 staples, 15 skin grafts, and one tracheotomy. Redman lost his sense of smell and has a limited range of motion in his left arm.

While Redman was recovering, he hung up a sign on his hospital door. He said, "the sign came about because a few people came into my room with sorrow for the wounds I received and I pledged shortly after I was wounded not to feel sorry for myself, so I wasn't going to allow anyone else to feel sorry for me." The bright orange sign read:

Attention to all who enter here. If you are coming into this room with sorrow or to feel sorry for my wounds, go elsewhere. The wounds I received I got in a job I love, doing it for people I love, supporting the freedom of a country I deeply love. I am incredibly tough and will make a full recovery. What is full? That is the absolute utmost physically my body has the ability to recover. Then I will push that about 20 percent further through sheer mental tenacity. This room you are about to enter is a room of fun, optimism, and intense rapid regrowth. If you are not prepared for that, go elsewhere.

It was signed, "The Management." The sign attracted then-President George W. Bush, and Redman had the chance to meet him in the Oval Office. The sign hangs at the wounded ward of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Activism

Redman founded the non-profit organization Wounded Wear while he was recovering. Because of his scars, he was always being asked if he was wounded in a car accident or motorcycle crash. Redman was never asked if he was hurt in combat, and that made him "bitter." After a culmination of questions, he decided to design a t-shirt that read, "Stop staring. I got shot by a machine gun. It would have killed you." On the back of the t-shirt was the American flag. After getting positive feedback from strangers, Redman realized that other wounded soldiers must be feeling the same way.

Wounded Wear was founded in 2009.

The organization donates clothing kits to warriors hurt in combat and to families of fallen soldiers. The kit contains clothing like jacket, workout gear, and t-shirts. They also alter clothing for soldiers injured in combat to accommodate their medical devices. Everything is done free of charge. As of 2014, Wounded Wear has donated 2,000 kits. In March 2015, Redman announced plans to hire a professional to take over his role, but Redman will remain the spokesperson.

Redman also travels the country as a motivational speaker. He has spoken to the Marriott Corporation, the NFL Cincinnati Bengals, and the U.S. Men's 2010 Olympic Hockey Team.

He is the head of staffing at Blue Star Veterans Network, where his job is to hire and employ wounded warriors and service disabled veterans.

Redman is the founder of the private company, SOF Spoken.

Author

Redman started writing his memoir, The Trident: The Forging and Reforging of a Navy SEAL Leader, while he was in recovery. It was co-authored with John Bruning.

While he was recovering at Bethseda Naval Hospital, Redman was honored with the Purple Heart. He has also earned the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Navy Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (five awards), and Combat Action Ribbon (2 awards).

In November 2009, Redman was awarded the Alumni Service Award from his alma mater, Old Dominion University. In 2010, he was given the Hope and Courage award. Redman was honored with the Military Hero Award from The Hampton Roads Community in 2013.

Redman is married and has three children.

In July 2010, Redman reached the summit of Mount Rainier along with three other wounded service members. The purpose was to prove that "there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome if you have the drive, the determination, and the tenacity to rise above."