. >> reporter: army colonel greg gadson was blown out of his passenger's seat by a roadside bomb.as in baghdad. 2007. his physical injuries were so severe, doctors assumed he would suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. but he was too embarrassed to accept it. why did you find it so hard to really believe that you had post-traumatic stress? >> it was not something that i could identify with. you know, as an athlete, as a, as an officer, as a leader, we're trained to, to override pain, to override doubt. >> reporter: both his legs were amputated above the knee. he had permanent nerve damage, limited function in his right arm. gadson underwent 22 surgeries. he was in rehabilitation for 18 months. his abilities greatly diminished from his college glory days >> trying to get off the pass and down he will go. great defense by greg gadson, number 98 of chesapeake, virginia. >> reporter: played football at the u.s. military academy at west point. a co-captain and outside linebacker, powering through was in his d.n.a. >> greg gadson right here by his speed or by his size, but he's go