I could be, you know, the person that shows little kids that giving up isn't something that you should do.

I don't come from a rich family - it's not like we lived in a cardboard box, but we didn't have a ton of money.

The whole idea that the rescue was staged or the soldiers were shooting blanks, that's just obvious stuff. Why would you do that in the middle of a war? It's just crazy.

I remember the first time I put on the Army uniform. I just felt like a totally different person - I felt proud.

Since coming back from Iraq, there's been so many triumphs and obstacles standing in my way, so whenever I set my mind to something, I definitely just go full blast at it.

I could be, you know, the person that shows little kids that giving up isn't something that you should do.

I'm not about to take credit for something I didn't do. I did not shoot - not a round, nothing. I went down praying to my knees - that's the last thing I remember.