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The Producers Choice Honors
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Military Warrior and Veteran to Receive Hero Mobility Machine
Wheelchairs for Warriors to Honor Combat Marine Injured and Amputated in War
Houston, Texas (September 24, 2018) – The mission to fit disabled and severely injured protectors with a mobility solution that fits their lifestyle and equip them for continued service to our Nation, continues. Wheelchairs for Warriors has identified their next deserving recipient. Earlier this year they awarded an advanced wheelchair to Special Forces Green Beret Joseph “Joe” Lowrey of Ontario, California. He was shot through his helmet in Afghanistan in 2014 (during combat operations) from a high-powered rifle, which resulted in a traumatic brain injury and loss of the use of the left side of his body. Wheelchairs for Warriors next mission turned to the Marines, thanks to Tejano Veterans of Houston, Texas.
We were introduced to Eric “Iron Fist” Morante, a United States Marine Combat Veteran who served 3 tours in Iraq and was injured along with 7 other Marines and a Navy Corpsman, when a suicide bomber detonated 3,000 pounds of explosive under a 15-foot section of bridge.
Sergeant Morante suffered a broken jaw and teeth, facial injuries, fractured wrist and his right leg was amputated, which has given him much discomfort given the limited options for movement of a very active Marine boxer who enters the ring as “Iron Fist” Morante. He currently gets by with a heavy and uncomfortable prosthetic leg and a pair of crutches.
An Interview with Eric Morante (USMC)
Wheelchairs for Warriors hero will be recognized and honored in Las Vegas November 7, 2018 at a red-carpet Producer’s Choice Honors event, which will feature many prominent music and entertainment stars, including board member Susan Giacona.
Wheelchairs for Warriors was founded to meet a unique need within the rescue and service community for those disabled in the line-of-duty, fighting for our country or rescuing people in harm’s way, to include Combat Veterans, EMS, Firefighters, and Peace Officers.
Wheelchairs for Warriors provides custom-fit, complex, rehab mobility solutions designed for the warrior’s specific needs: depending on their injuries and lifestyle. These wheelchairs can be operated by head, finger, foot, shoulder, puff of breath, eye movement, etc. The wheelchairs can elevate and recline providing comfort and access while also providing relief to pressure points. The adaptive machines are designed by Paul Morgan, their Complex Rehab Seating Specialist.
Wheelchairs for Warriors is currently seeking other wheelchair candidates across the nation.
To learn more about Wheelchairs for Warriors, apply, help someone to apply, and to join the mission, please visit: www.WheelchairsForWarriors.com
Marine Sergeant Eric “Iron Fist” Morante
Eric Morante Bio: Born and raised in Houston, Texas. Eric Morante played cornerback for Spring Woods High School where he graduated in May of 2003. During high school, Eric also started his passion with boxing, training at a local gym after school. He also tattooed Japanese kanji letters that spell out the Marines’ Core Values: “Honor, Courage, Commitment” as a sign of his devotion to the marines and his country. As soon as he graduated high school, Eric enlisted in the US Marine Corps and left Houston, arriving at the Marine Corps Recruit Training depot in July of 2003. He spent 13 weeks basic training in Platoon 1010 1st Recruit Training Battalion before graduating as a basically trained Marine in time of war. He went directly to the School of Infantry in Camp Pendleton, California and then reported to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines in 29 Palms, California on January 12th 2004. The following month, February 2004, his battalion deployed to Iraq for 7 months. Promoted to Lance Corporal while deployed to the combat zone, Eric’s unit took part in Operation Ripper Sweepto cordon off insurgents embedded in the city of Fallujah in preparation for the invasion of that city later in 2004. Additionally, his battalion spent the majority of that deployment patrolling the border between Iraq and Syria before being replaced by 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines, the reserve Infantry Battalion from his hometown of Houston, Texas. In January of 2004, his battalion returned their base in the Mojave Desert but was only home for six months before a second deployment to Iraq on July 4th of 2005. At this time, the Insurgency was increasing in theatre and the battalion operated in the dangerous Al Anbar province of Iraq. Eric was again promoted while in country. This time he made Corporal, which made him a Non Commissioned Officer. After returning for a voluntary 3rd deployment to Iraq in 2007, Morante’s squad was attacked by a suicide bomber while on a observation post in the town of Saqlawiya. The members of Fox Company ,2nd Battalio, 7th Marines would later learn that an Iraqi suicide bomber had driven a dump truck just under the checkpoint and ignited 3,000 pounds of explosives with his cellphone. Eric and others were flown by helicopter to a combat hospital in Balad, Iraq, where surgeons removed Eric’s right leg at the knee. Others in his squad were also severely injured Cpl. John “Big” Mendez, 23, had shattered shins and was later amputated below the knee on one leg; Lcpl. May had two fractured ribs, a torn shoulder and fragmented vertebrae in his lower spine; Doc Thompson had severe brain trauma. Lcll. Brandon “Little” Mendez had an amputation of his left hand below the elbow. Eric’s life and the lives of his brothers were changed forever. Eric was presented the Purple Heart by former President Bush for being wounded in battle.After retiring medically from the United States Marine Corps in 2010, Morante would again pursue his passion for boxing, and is the 1st Marine Amputee sanctioned to compete in boxing in the United States. Eric the “Iron Fist” Morantehas helped motivate, and inspire other veterans, plus children with disabilities by speaking to them at different events. He is currently trying to pursue boxing to be open for the Paralympic games, in which he would like to attend and achieve a gold medal if possible. Eric’s leadership continues to be with him outside of the Marine Corps, and he hopes to help change the lives of those who are in need. Eric now holds the title for the fourth year in a row as the NABA featherweight boxing champion.
Eric Morante Bio: Born and raised in Houston, Texas. Eric Morante played cornerback for Spring Woods High School where he graduated in May of 2003. During high school, Eric also started his passion with boxing, training at a local gym after school. He also tattooed Japanese kanji letters that spell out the Marines’ Core Values: “Honor, Courage, Commitment” as a sign of his devotion to the marines and his country. As soon as he graduated high school, Eric enlisted in the US Marine Corps and left Houston, arriving at the Marine Corps Recruit Training depot in July of 2003. He spent 13 weeks basic training in Platoon 1010 1st Recruit Training Battalion before graduating as a basically trained Marine in time of war. He went directly to the School of Infantry in Camp Pendleton, California and then reported to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines in 29 Palms, California on January 12th 2004. The following month, February 2004, his battalion deployed to Iraq for 7 months. Promoted to Lance Corporal while deployed to the combat zone, Eric’s unit took part in Operation Ripper Sweepto cordon off insurgents embedded in the city of Fallujah in preparation for the invasion of that city later in 2004. Additionally, his battalion spent the majority of that deployment patrolling the border between Iraq and Syria before being replaced by 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines, the reserve Infantry Battalion from his hometown of Houston, Texas. In January of 2004, his battalion returned their base in the Mojave Desert but was only home for six months before a second deployment to Iraq on July 4th of 2005. At this time, the Insurgency was increasing in theatre and the battalion operated in the dangerous Al Anbar province of Iraq. Eric was again promoted while in country. This time he made Corporal, which made him a Non Commissioned Officer. After returning for a voluntary 3rd deployment to Iraq in 2007, Morante’s squad was attacked by a suicide bomber while on a observation post in the town of Saqlawiya. The members of Fox Company ,2nd Battalio, 7th Marines would later learn that an Iraqi suicide bomber had driven a dump truck just under the checkpoint and ignited 3,000 pounds of explosives with his cellphone. Eric and others were flown by helicopter to a combat hospital in Balad, Iraq, where surgeons removed Eric’s right leg at the knee. Others in his squad were also severely injured Cpl. John “Big” Mendez, 23, had shattered shins and was later amputated below the knee on one leg; Lcpl. May had two fractured ribs, a torn shoulder and fragmented vertebrae in his lower spine; Doc Thompson had severe brain trauma. Lcll. Brandon “Little” Mendez had an amputation of his left hand below the elbow. Eric’s life and the lives of his brothers were changed forever. Eric was presented the Purple Heart by former President Bush for being wounded in battle.After retiring medically from the United States Marine Corps in 2010, Morante would again pursue his passion for boxing, and is the 1st Marine Amputee sanctioned to compete in boxing in the United States. Eric the “Iron Fist” Morantehas helped motivate, and inspire other veterans, plus children with disabilities by speaking to them at different events. He is currently trying to pursue boxing to be open for the Paralympic games, in which he would like to attend and achieve a gold medal if possible. Eric’s leadership continues to be with him outside of the Marine Corps, and he hopes to help change the lives of those who are in need. Eric now holds the title for the fourth year in a row as the NABA featherweight boxing champion.