SGT Legrand Strickland enlisted in the Army following his high school graduation as an infantryman. After serving his initial enlistment, SGT Strickland left the military to attend college. He graduated from Oklahoma State University and worked as a graphic artist for four years before deciding to leave his job to reenlist during wartime. SGT Strickland could have returned to the Army as a commissioned officer as a college graduate, however, he chose to return as an infantryman. SGT Strickland was assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 4th Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division.

On February 2, 2010, SGT Strickland was riding in an armored Humvee in Zabul Province, Afghanistan near the Afghan / Pakistani border when his vehicle was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Two of SGT Strickland's comrades were killed in the blast, which blew SGT Strickland out of the gunner's hatch of the Humvee.
Following the explosion, SGT Strickland underwent a bilateral amputation of his legs above the knee and suffered serious head injuries. His recovery has required numerous surgeries, the most recent being a cranioplasty, which replaced a missing piece of his skull approximately 3 inches by 2 inches with a steel plate. SGT Strickland is currently in recovery at Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

SGT Legrand and Carrie Strickland have always planned to send their children, Noah, 14, and Nathan, 13, to college. Thanks to your generous contributions and willingness to adopt No Greater Sacrifice's worthy mission, the Strickland Family and other families will have their educational dreams come true.

Some videos featuring the Stricklands:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600/#42850387
http://www.newson6.com/category/121535/video-page?clipId=4930391