Marine Staff Sergeant Thomas Charles Linville (Retired) - Climbing Mt. Everest

Marine Staff Sergeant Thomas Charles Linville (Charlie) enlisted in the Marine Corps 2006, and shortly hereafter married his high school sweetheart Mandi. They have two daughters.

Charlie's served multiple tours in both Iraq and Afganistan. It was in the latter, while serving as an Ordinance Disposal Technician - he and his team rendered safe multiple IED’s, disposed of explosives both “homemade” and conventional ammunition - that Charlie was struck by a tertiary device. The explosion inflicted multiple injuries on him, some visible others not. He suffered fractures to his right foot which resulted in an inevitable amputation below the knee. In addition, Charlie suffered the amputations of his right ring and middle fingers. In addition, the blast caused a severe spinal injury at the L4, L5 and S1, which caused radiculopathy in his left leg impairing his mobility, and moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Charlie’s injuries have impaired him but he is determined to return to full functionality. Despite his injuries and debilitating pain, he has volunteered his time with the Armed Services YMCA building houses with Habitat for Humanity and volunteering with Feed America. He has also volunteered with Lives of Promise and Semper Fi Fund. He is an advocate for other wounded warriors, a spokesperson for many of the non-profits that supported him during healing, and an inspiring community leader. He is medically retired from active duty as an EOD Tech and has turned his focus on regaining function in his back as well as improved mobility. Currently he is training rigorously to climb Mount Everest in the spring of 2014. Following his successful summit, Charlie plans to attend Boise State University through the Wyakin Warrior Foundation. He will seek a degree in Engineering.