Local Marine, double amputee plays for San Diego Ducks sled hockey team

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Local Marine Brandon Dodson loves playing sled hockey. A decade ago, hitting the ice seemed impossible.

“My fifth deployment, which would’ve been my second deployment with 1-7 going to Afghanistan. I had my bad day at work,” Dodson said.

A bad day is an understatement. On Dodson’s last mission, he stepped on a bomb.

“The charge was right underneath me and basically split me in half,” Dodson said.

Dodson lost both legs, with his pelvis shattering in two. He was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition.

“That was the absolute worst of it. I remember all of it, because I was conscious. So for 28 minutes, from blast to getting put in the LZ,” Dodson said.

Once the Ramona native arrived back in the states, he rehabbed for two years.

The double amputee did the impossible, finding a way to be grateful.

“I’m watching quadruple amputees put on both of their own arms and put on both of their own legs. Get up, walk around the facility we had, doing their laps and their workout. I’m like I have both of my hands, what do I have to complain about?”

The 39-year-old is thankful for Semper Fi & America’s Fund covering all costs while he got back on his feet.

“They were working behind the scenes with my family before I even came out, before I even knew what was going on. My family had a relationship with the fund pretty deeply before I even was part of it,” Dodson said.

Semper Fi & America’s Fund didn’t just pay for Dodson’s hospital expenses, they also helped him with his passion. He’s been playing with the San Diego Ducks sled hockey team since 2017, and they gave him skier machines to help give him an edge on the ice.

“Definitely something I needed in my daily workout routine, I’m just forever grateful the fund will continue to help me with stuff like this,” Dodson said.

The defenseman is scheduled to get back on the ice this fall.

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