The Joint Chiefs of Staff gathered around the soldier sitting in the chair.
Dr. Mark Reynolds, the head of the project announced, “Generals, seated before you is Captain Thomas B. White. He served two tours in Iraq. We have affectionately nicknamed him the six million dollar man.”
“Show us what he can do,” The Chairman said, motioning to the other generals to take a seat.
Reynolds faced Thomas and said, “Stand up and walk around.”
Thomas stood up and walked several yards in one direction, then turned around and walked back to the chair.
Reynolds looked at the generals, expecting a round of applause. Instead, they quietly sat there.
“No, no, have him carry something while he’s walking,” The Chairman said.
Reynolds motioned to an assistant who brought a military backpack and placed it in front of Thomas. Thomas smiled, then mounted the backpack on his back and walked the same route again.
“How many hundreds of pounds is he carrying?” the Chairman said.
Reynolds frowned. “The backpack has only about fifty pounds.”
The generals started looking at each other.
“Doctor, we want to see some superhuman act.”
“Excuse me?”
“Yes, we gave you millions to improve our soldiers.”
Captain White raised his hand. “And sir, my family and I want to thank you for that investment. Now I don’t have to spend the rest of my life as a quadriplegic.”
Dr. Mark Reynolds, the head of the project announced, “Generals, seated before you is Captain Thomas B. White. He served two tours in Iraq. We have affectionately nicknamed him the six million dollar man.”
“Show us what he can do,” The Chairman said, motioning to the other generals to take a seat.
Reynolds faced Thomas and said, “Stand up and walk around.”
Thomas stood up and walked several yards in one direction, then turned around and walked back to the chair.
Reynolds looked at the generals, expecting a round of applause. Instead, they quietly sat there.
“No, no, have him carry something while he’s walking,” The Chairman said.
Reynolds motioned to an assistant who brought a military backpack and placed it in front of Thomas. Thomas smiled, then mounted the backpack on his back and walked the same route again.
“How many hundreds of pounds is he carrying?” the Chairman said.
Reynolds frowned. “The backpack has only about fifty pounds.”
The generals started looking at each other.
“Doctor, we want to see some superhuman act.”
“Excuse me?”
“Yes, we gave you millions to improve our soldiers.”
Captain White raised his hand. “And sir, my family and I want to thank you for that investment. Now I don’t have to spend the rest of my life as a quadriplegic.”
