[Vision2020] Spc. Who Lost Legs Dies After Playing Hockey

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the Army Times at:

http://www.ArmyTimes.com

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Spc. who lost legs dies after playing hockey

DETROIT — Former Army Spc. Alex Knapp, a double-leg amputee as a result of
wounds in Iraq who recently received a new handicap-accessible home, died
Saturday after playing sled hockey.

Knapp, 24, had recently qualified for the U.S. Junior National Paralympic
Sled Hockey Team, and was training with the Michigan Sled Dogs hockey team
at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., when he reportedly
complained of bad indigestion that did not get better.

Knapp was being taken to the hospital when he went into cardiac arrest and
died, said Dan Higgins, a family friend and Michigan volunteer fundraiser
leader for Homes for Our Troops, a Massachusetts nonprofit that builds or
adapts homes for military personnel injured since 2001.

"The family was blessed with over two years with Alex after what should
have been a life-ending accident in Iraq," said his uncle Kevin Knapp of
Shelby Township.

Knapp studied criminal justice at Michigan State University for two years
before joining the Army military police. When he was done, his mother,
Jeannette Knapp, had said, he planned to go into law enforcement.

He had worked hard to overcome the loss of both his legs above the knee in
2008. The vehicle the then-military policeman was driving struck an
improvised explosive device.

In an e-mailed statement, John Gonsalves, founder of Homes For Our Troops,
said: "Alex's spirit and character touched the lives of not just his
community, but also his country."

On Dec. 19, Knapp received the keys to the first home built in metro
Detroit by Homes for Our Troops. Knapp selected the design and shared the
home with his best friend.

Although Knapp used a wheelchair to get around, he was working to use
prostheses. Higgins said the new house gave Knapp a fresh start and
confidence to fulfill his dream to play hockey.

Higgins said Knapp drove on his own out of state for the first time to
Buffalo for his first sled hockey practice about 10 days ago. He said
Knapp was the fastest skater on his team.

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Video of Specialist Alex Knapp by "Homes for Our Troops"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XJtHDAGfPY

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Rest well, Spec. Knapp.

Tom Hansen
Astoria, Oregon

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown