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* News Articles
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Obstacles can't stand in skydiver's way
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This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press October 19, 2001
By JANNISE JOHNSON
Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER - Hundreds of Lancaster High students clapped and cheered Thursday morning as they stared skyward looking for their first glimpse of paratrooper Dana Bowman. Bowman landed perfectly on the red, white and blue chalk replica of the American flag dusted onto the grass in Lancaster High's football stadium.
Bowman lost both his legs in a skydiving accident in Yuma, Ariz., in 1994. He was the first person to be allowed to re-enlist in the Army as a double amputee, said Harold Goldsmith, manager for the People with Disabilities program at Edwards Air Force Base.
Goldsmith worked with administrators at the Antelope Valley Union High School District and Bowman for three months to get him to perform the jump and give students what he called an inspirational speech. Bowman spoke as part of National Disability Employment Month, Goldsmith said. "That's Dana's thing," he said. "He really likes to talk to kids."
Bowman also collects donated prosthetic limbs from people in the United States so he can send them to amputees in other countries. In addition to Lancaster High students, all disabled students from the district's six high schools attended the event. Bowman unfurled an American flag while he was still in the air. As he drifted to the ground, the flag flapped behind him. Once on the ground, he spoke briefly to the students about not letting obstacles stand in the way of whatever goals they might have. "It's incredible what you can do with disabilities, safely," Bowman said. Shortly after the talk, a few students approached him and requested to have their pictures taken with him. Bowman was happy to comply. At least four students were photographed with Bowman before he could even walk off the field.
Bowman executes his jumps while wearing prosthetic leg extensions. Walking and sky jumping with the artificial limbs is "all about balance," he said. But, "you can adapt to anything," he said. Tommy West, a 10th-grader, thought Bowman's jump was "awesome." "He showed everybody that, whatever they throw at you, you can handle it," West said. Tammy Flores, also a 10th-grader, said she'd been looking forward to the jump for weeks. "I think his appearance was a good one," Flores said. "It makes you think you can do anything."
Bowman was a Special Forces soldier in the U.S. Army at the time of his accident. During that time, he was a member of a skydiving team known as The Golden Knights. He now travels across the country as a motivational speaker.
� 2001 Antelope Valley Press, Palmdale, California (661) 273-2700
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