Soldier receives hero's welcome at screening of documentary 'Travis: A Soldier's Story'
Fay Observer
Drew Brooks Staff Writer
Oct 18, 2013
Staff Sgt. Travis Mills insists he's not a hero, that he doesn't deserve any more praise than any other soldier.
Nonetheless, he received a hero's welcome Thursday in Fayetteville, as scores of people viewed a documentary about Mills, one of only five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mills was injured in April 2012 while serving with the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division in southern Afghanistan.
Addressing more than 200 people who paid to see "Travis: A Soldier's Story" at the Carmike 12, Mills told jokes, sang and otherwise showed the larger-than-life personality that his friends and fellow paratroopers said never went away, even after his limbs were blown off by an improvised explosive device.
"They may have taken his legs and arms, but his personality has stayed intact," said Sgt. David Flynn, a member of the Army's Golden Knights and Mills' best friend.
Mills, who is currently assigned to a unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C., returned to Fayetteville for the movie's screening after a successful online effort to have the film shown near Fort Bragg.
The audience was filled with veterans, including Mills' cohorts from the Fury Brigade, and family and friends. They gave Mills a standing ovation when he was introduced before the film.
Some viewers traveled from as far as Pennsylvania for the chance to see the film and meet Mills.
"My story's just one of so many," Mills said. "But I was really nervous about showing it here."
Mills said he hoped his story wouldn't discourage anyone from joining the Army or deploying.
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