On December 4 2005, US Air Force Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro Jr. was severely wounded when his Humvee hit an IED in Afghanistan.
After suffering catastrophic injuries which consisted of 80% of his being burned, he was given a 15% chance of survival. Then his doctors told him he was going to be in the hospital for another year, that he may never walk again, and he’d probably be stuck on a respirator for the rest of his life. But Del Toro had a promise to keep to his son: that he would never have to grow up without a father.
In 2010, after years agonizing pain, surgeries and mental fortitude, he became the first airman with a 100% disability rating to re-enlist.
In June 2020, he was refused entry on a base commissary because he wasn’t wearing a mask due to the COVID19 situation. When asked why he didn’t have a mask, he replied: ” I can’t wear one because I lost my ears and fingers in the line of duty.
“The base commander was made aware of the incident and quickly apologized. #hero
