Super Hero: Bob Wieland

Bob grew up in Wisconsin with plans to play baseball. He was in his third year at the University of Wisconsin and was negotiating a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies when Uncle Sam sent him an invitation he couldn't refuse...he was called to serve in Vietnam as a combat medic.

Based at the Army's base camp at Cu Chi in Vietnam, Bob never got accustomed to constantly being around death. Because of his medic title, many depended on this young man who longed for baseball fields back in the states.

Then in June of 1969, Bob's squad walked on a booby trap of buried mortar rounds. There were explosions. Soldiers fell to the ground. As Bob ran to help a friend, he stepped on a booby trap - a 82mm buried mortar - a round designed to destroy tanks.

He was pronounced dead on arrival. Amazingly he survived the blast.

If Bob had SKYPE he could have placed a Video Call For Free It's all in the detail.

Bob likes to say of that day, "My legs went one direction, my life another."

Bob had lost his future in baseball, his ability to walk, to dance, to climb. He now faced a future filled with obstacles.

Most people would become depressed or maybe bitter. But not Bob, he chose to face this challenge with hope, faith and courage.

Bob says, "I survived. If that's not a miracle, what is?"

I believe Bob is the miracle. The miracle sent to tell us all that life's a gift and not to waste any of it worrying over what might have been, but to focus on what can be.

Bob travels around the world telling people his story...he is "AOA" Alive On Arrival.

If that was all there was to Bob's story, it would be enough. A miracle. Yet, that was just the beginning of Bob's journey. While lying in his hospital bed, he decided to lift weights...at that point he couldn't even lift 5 lbs...but he persisted - every day he trained and every day he got stronger.

The athlete in him took over and he eventually shattered the world record in his weight division in the bench press on four occasions, lifting 507 pounds.

The ironic thing is that he was disqualified all four times - for not wearing shoes!! He was finally banned from the sport. So much for sportsmanship!

Yet even that didn't make Bob bitter. He just turned to another sport - the marathons!

Bob has completed many marathons including the New York, Los Angeles, and Marine Corp Marathons and is the only double amputee EVER to complete the grueling Ironman Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii - without a wheelchair!!

Bob also completed the most exciting marathon of all - a walk across America - on his HANDS! Bob tells a story of when he got the idea that there were a lot of people who wanted to join him on his walk. Starting at the Pacific Ocean they all marched East. One by one, as the days got warmer and the desert nearer, they dropped out.

Until Bob was left alone.

But he didn't stop. He said he would do it and Bob keeps his word. So he would drive his pickup up the road, get his wheelchair out of the pickup and go back to where he started, then get out of the wheelchair and walk back to his pickup on his hands, drive back to get his wheelchair and do the same leapfrog action over and over and over...

Bob says, "Always remember, it's too soon to quit."

2005 Named One of the Top 100 Sports Stories in the past 100 years

2003 National Victor Award "Special Achievement in Sports"

2003 Henry IBA Citizen Athlete of the Year "Chairmans Award"

2001 Vietnam Veterans Foundation's "Man of the Year"

2001 World Champion Clydesdale Triathlon in 55-59 yr age group - defeated both able-bodied and disabled athletes.

1996, Named "The Most Courageous Man in America" by the NFL Players Association and the Jim Thorpe Foundation

1994, Voted "One of the Six Most Amazing Americans in the Past 20 Years" by People Magazine

1989, U.S. Marine Corps Marathon, "Most Inspirational" Award

1989, Healthy American Fitness Leader Award, United States Jaycees

1988, recipient of the prestigious Victory Award

1986, Outstanding Alumnus of the Year, California State University

1977-78, California's Outstanding Disabled American Veteran

1971-72, Wisconsin's Outstanding Disabled American Veteran

* Strength, flexibility, and motivational coach with the professional football team Green Bay packers

* Hosted 1992 television talk show Beating the Odds on national Sports Channel America

* Faculty member, outstanding graduate, and alumnus of California State University, Los Angeles

* Completed 6,200 mile bike circuit, twice across America in conjunction with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society

After several years of very careful consideration, Bob "Mr. Inspiration" Wieland is moving forward on a feature film about his life.

Due to begin production in the Summer of 2008, this should be one of the most inspirational movies of our time.

If you would like to help Bob with his project... check out his website at Team Inspiration, Inc.>

What is it that made Bob so willing to look forward, to praise every breath, to not become angry, depressed or bitter?

He would say its his faith. Yet many have faith and have failed to overcome challenges less than these.

I say it is SPIRIT. Bob's spirit is his miracle. He was given it and he freely shares it with anyone willing to listen.

He loves. He forgives. He is thankful. He stands head and shoulders above us and yet right beside us.

If you ever get a chance to see Bob in action, take the opportunity. You will be better for it.

Thank you Robert Wieland. Thank you for putting your life on the line for us in Vietnam and thank you for putting your life in our line of sight.