. >>> melissa stockwell. well, she could have given up on life.e bomb took her leg in iraq. but she realized life doesn't stop because of a disability. now she's a triathlete who is making history. inspiring other disabled people to live out their lives without limits. her amazing journey in this "welcome home." april 13, 2004, is a date melissa stockwell will never forget. >> it was the last day i was on my own two legs. i was part of the u.s. army. it was a routine convoy through central baghdad. ten minutes into the ride we went under this bridge, a big boom, a woman in the front yells, ied. i looked down, where my leg should have been, i saw blood. there was a few moments of, why me? why did this happen to me? i see other soldiers that are missing two limbs, three limbs, sometimes four limbs are. i'm one of the lucky ones. i made a decision i was going to live my life for those who didn't make it back at all. >> reporter: a year after her injury stockwell went back to school for a new career in pros. >> you fit amputees with artificial limbs.

stockwell became the first iraq war veteran to be chosen for the u.s. paraolympic team. >> i'm going to introduce our 2008 beijing paira olympic team. melissa> the feeling, the journey from the streets of baghdad, made me feel so alive. >> reporter: stockwell now helps run "dare 2 try" a triathlon club that provides adaptive equipment and coaches for tlooets athletes with disabilities in the chicago area. >> being an athlete myself and knowing what it's like to sit and wonder if you'll walk again and run again and actually have someone tell you you can but show you you can and provide the resources for you to do it. you gain so much, the confidence can take over into all other aspects of their lives. >> let's hear for chris. >> very nice. >>> it's taken the internet by storm. ♪ ♪ gangnam style >> who does not love that? details of a new milestone for gangnam style. ♪ [ male announcer ] if someone asks what it feels like to drive a jeep grand cherokee, tell them it's like being nestled in an eight-way, adjustable, heated and ventilated seat surrounded by a 500-watt sound system while floating on a suspension made of billowy clouds. or you co

i want you to meet melissa stockwell. she was a lieutenant in iraq in april 2004. she was hit by an i.e.d. it was on her home. it was on herin a way, her new life began on that day. she is an expert on prosthetics, having lost her leg and had it replaced by what you would not describe as an artificial leg but just a different leg. ladies and gentlemen, melissa stockwell. [applause] how did you go into the army? >> i love our country. i wanted to be in the military. >> did you go in before or after 9/11? >> after. i was in rotc at the university of colorado in boulder. we were told it was more a matter of when we were deployed. it became real. >> we were making the transition at that point -- women serving downrange in combat conditions. was it difficult to be a female in a military? >> i was in a service support unit. i was transportation corp. we all wear the same uniform. everybody got treated the same in the same uniform. >> let us go back to that april day in 2004. it is cathartic. we ought not to be afraid to ask about these episodes. >> april 13, 2004. i was

melissa stockwell. >> the feeling is it happened the way it was supposed to.of bag dohdad the pools of beijing, i feel so alive. >> she runs dare to try that provides adaptive equipment and coaches for athletes with disabilities in the chicago area. >> being an athlete and knowing what it's like to sit there and wonder if you'll walk again, run again, and have someone not only tell you that you can but show you you can and provide the resources to do it. you gain so much. that confidence is really take over into all aspects of life. >> let's hear it for chris! >> incredible, inspiration. dare to try is almost two years old now. the triathlon club allows young people, adults, and injured service members compete in cycling, swimming, and running. >> he defeated roberto duran and sugar ray leonard, and he's one of the great. we'll remember the great boxing champ hector mach"macho" camach next. ♪ ♪ that's right. so it's like i won. sure. oh my gosh i won!!! i won!!! [ male announcer ] get a $100 walmart gift card when you buy any android or windows 8 smartphone. t

i want you to meet melissa stockwell. she was a lieutenant in iraq in april 2004. she was hit by an i.e.d. it was on her home. in a way, her new life began on that day. she is an expert on prosthetics, having lost her leg and had it replaced by what you would not describe as an artificial leg but just a different leg. ladies and gentlemen, melissa stockwell. [applause] how did you go into the army? >> i love our country. i wanted to be in the military. >> did you go in before or after 9/11? >> after. i was in rotc at the university of colorado in boulder. we were told it was more a matter of when we were deployed. it became real. >> we were making the transition at that point -- women serving downrange in combat conditions. was it difficult to be a female in a military? >> i was in a service support unit. >> i was in a service support unit. i was transportation corp. we all wear the same uniform. everybody got treated the same in the same uniform. >> let us go back to that april day in 2004. it is cathartic. we ought not to be afraid to ask about these episodes. >>

ladies and gentlemen, melissa stockwell. [applause] alyssa, how did you go into the ?rmy to attac >> i love our country. i wanted to be in the military. >> did you go in before or after 9/11? >> after. i was in rotc at the university of colorado in boulder. we were told it was more a matter of when we were deployed. it became real. >> we were making the transition at that point. women serving downrange in combat conditions. was it difficult to attack as a female -- no. was it difficult to be a female in a military? i was in a service support unit. i was transportation corp. we all wear the same uniform. everybody got treated the same in the same uniform. >> let us go back to that april day in 2004. it is cathartic. we ought not to be afraid to ask about these episodes. >> , april 1april 2004, 1913, 2. i was on humvee. i was behind the driver. we had no doors, no armor. 10 minutes into the right, a belasco's off. what you see today is the last day i have ever stood, two legs. there was the last of the i.e.d. >> how did they treat to in the field? .> there was a compact

ladies and gentlemen, melissa stockwell. [applause] alyssa, how did you go into the ?rmy to attac >> i love our country. i wanted to be in the military. >> did you go in before or after 9/11? >> after. i was in rotc at the university of colorado in boulder. we were told it was more a matter of when we were deployed. it became real. >> we were making the transition at that point. women serving downrange in combat conditions. was it difficult to attack as a female -- no. was it difficult to be a female in a military? i was in a service support unit. i was transportation corp. we all wear the same uniform. everybody got treated the same in the same uniform. >> let us go back to that april day in 2004. it is cathartic. we ought not to be afraid to ask about these episodes. >> , april 1april 2004, 1913, 2. i was on humvee. i was behind the driver. we had no doors, no armor. 10 minutes into the right, a belasco's off. what you see today is the last day i have ever stood, two legs. there was the last of the i.e.d. >> how did they treat to in the field? .> there was a compact