User:ZappaOMatic/Liam Dwyer
Liam Dwyer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1981 or 1982 (age 42–43) Litchfield, Connecticut |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service | Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 2000–present |
| Rank | Staff Sgt. |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards |
|
| Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge career | |
| Debut season | 2014 |
| Current team | Freedom Autosport |
| Car number | 26 |
| Wins | 1 |
Liam Dwyer is an American sports car racing driver and Staff Sargent in the United States Marine Corps. He currently drives the No. 26 Freedom Autosport Mazda MX-5 in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.
In 2011, Dwyer lost his left leg after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) and later began racing with a prosthesis.
Military career
[edit]After the USS Cole bombing, Dwyer enlisted in the military in October 2000 and trained at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. He was deployed to Iraq in January 2001 and served as a Humvee turret gunner. He returned from Iraq in 2007, after suffering injuries from fragmentation of an IED. Dwyer later encountered a major he had previously worked with and re-enlisted to serve in Afghanistan.[2] On May 22, 2011, Dwyer was clearing a Sangin compound,[3] when he stepped on an IED, which led to the loss of his left leg and injuries to his abdomen and torso from shrapnel.[4] To prevent infection, Dwyer underwent surgery every fortnight for five weeks, followed by reconstructive surgery.[5] Additionally, he would spend up to five hours rehabilitating at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.[4]
Racing career
[edit]Dwyer entered track days after returning from Iraq in 2007, followed by attending the Skip Barber Racing School before officially beginning racing upon returning from Afghanistan in 2011.[5] In 2012, Dwyer ran in vintage car racing, before joining the National Auto Sport Association the following year.[5] He also participated in autocross and rally racing.[6]
To race, Dwyer uses a special prosthesis, with it being attached to the clutch pedal. When switching with a co-driver, Dwyer would remove the split pin joining the prosthesis and the clutch.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Greene, Doug (September 22, 2011). "Wounded Marine Vows to Race Again". WVIT. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
- ^ "Liam Dwyer earns IMSA win". ESPN. May 25, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
- ^ Williams, Branden (May 24, 2014). "STAFF SGT. LIAM DWYER WINS IMSA RACE THREE YEARS AFTER LOSING LEG". Foxsports.com. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
- ^ a b "MARINE LIAM DYWER WINS IMSA RACE WITH PROSTHESIS". NASCAR. May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Five Questions With ... Staff Sgt. Liam Dwyer". International Motor Sports Association. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
- ^ Koerner, brendan (October 15, 2014). "How This Man Became a Pro Racer After Losing a Leg in Afghanistan". Wired. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
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- "SC Featured - Liam Dwyer: Drive". ESPN. May 24, 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
External links
[edit]{{Persondata | NAME = Dwyer, Liam | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH = 1981/1982 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Litchfield, Connecticut, U.S. | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Dwyer, Liam}} Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Connecticut Category:People from Litchfield, Connecticut Category:United States Marine Corps personnel