Brad Ivanchan
Inspired by his WWII veteran grandfather, Brad joined the Marines at age 19. Four years later, a night patrol gone horrifically wrong would change everything.
Brad After Multiple Amputations
Unflinching Comraderie In The Hell Of War
Joining the Marines was a natural choice for Brad Ivanchan. “My grandfather fought in the Pacific during WWII," Brad told us. "And he was someone I had always looked up to.” He joined the Marines on his 19th birthday.
Brad was deployed to Iraq in 2009, serving as a turret gunner and providing escort security for an explosive ordinance disposal team. He went on to become a machine gun team leader in Southeast Asia before earning the rank of Corporal in 2012. He became a squad leader serving in Afghanistan for Weapons Platoon with 12 Marines under his command, carrying out combat foot patrols across one of the most dangerous regions: Helmand Province.
"While Trying To Help Me, Two Other Members Of My Squad Triggered A Second IED"
On the night of June 13, 2012, Brad's squad of 10 men and an interpreter were conducting a night patrol when Brad stepped on a hidden bomb. The explosion amputated Brad's right leg below the knee and shredded his left leg to his lower thigh. His left arm and hand were also mangled.
"The heroic actions of the squad are the only reason I am here," he explained.
But the bravery of his fellow Marines rushing to his aid tripped more hidden bombs, leading to even more devastation.
"While trying to help me, two other members of my squad triggered a second IED." The blast caused multiple casualties and injured half the squad with fragmentation wounds, brain injuries, and amputations.
"It also resulted in the death of my friend, Cpl. Taylor Baune."
Mourning The Loss Of Life And Injuries To His Squad
Brad endured six surgeries to rebuild his left hand and treat multiple bacterial infections in both legs.
“This was undoubtedly the hardest period of my life," he remembered. "To go from a 23 year-old healthy, athletic guy to having to depend on a team of people just to bathe and go to the bathroom was initially devastating to me."
To make matters worse, Brad was also wrestling with the emotional burden of what happened that night. "I was mourning the loss of life and injuries of the other men in my squad who I felt responsible for.”
"I Remember Screaming Some Nights"
Brad’s parents took leave from their jobs to help his recovery. They took shifts sleeping in his hospital room every night.
"I can remember screaming to the point of tears some nights and there would be nothing the medical staff could do because I had exceeded my morphine allotment."
His parents and family remained by his side through the darkest days.
Looking For Any Hope
In this dark period of Brad's recovery, he found himself without hope. A member of the hospital staff shared stories of other severely wounded heroes who had endured similar struggles, and how they had overcome their injuries to achieve remarkable feats.
This resonated deeply with Brad.
He began his rehabilitation and recovery journey with new determination and optimism. "I started walking three months after my injury. Five months after that I became the first double amputee in history to climb Mt. Aconcagua."
This astonishing accomplishment meant one, very important thing to Brad. "It proved that my life is not defined by my injury.”
"I've Had Several Falls"
Despite Brad's incredible resiliency, his life at home is a constant battle. He resided in a small house that was not suited to his needs.
To make matters worse, not only was the home inaccessible to his wheelchair, it sits on an uneven lot with many stairs. "I've had several falls," Brad explained. "If there were a period when I couldn’t use my prosthetics... there is no real way to leave."
We Built A Custom Smart Home For Brad
Thanks to the support of grateful Americans across the country, we were honored to provide Brad with a mortgage-free, specially adapted home on October 23, 2025. At his dedication ceremony, Brad stood tall and strong on his prosthetics and shared his gratitude for you. “I never expected anything like this,” he said. “It still doesn’t seem real that I get to live here.”
Welcome home Brad!
