Purple Heart Veteran Danielle Green Helps Inspire Fellow Vets

Life doesn’t always go according to plan. However, it’s how you respond to adversity that will not only define you but also your future. Danielle Green was a basketball player at Notre Dame garnering lots of attention throughout her prolific collegiate career. As a Soldier, her service would take her to Iraq in 2004. This is where she would end up losing part of her arm following an RPG attack. However, her story didn’t end there. Today, Green continues to give back to the military community and beyond thanks to her resilience.

Danielle Green Is No Stranger to Overcoming Adversity

Enlisting as a military police officer in the U.S. Army in 2002, Danielle Green was deployed in January 2004 to Iraq. But before serving her country, Green was a star for Notre Dame’s women’s basketball team. Over 116 career games, Green averaged 9.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Green overcame a lot to become a 5’ 8” guard known for her deadly left hand as a part of the Fighting Irish. Growing up in South Side Chicago with her grandmother, Green’s mother was unfortunately busy dealing with substance abuse issues. Needless to say, the change from a Black neighborhood that continues to struggle with crime to a mostly white, prestigious Catholic school was a big one. However, with the help of Dr. Mickey Franco, a sports psychologist, and the welcoming arms of those on campus, Green was able to find a new home, despite feelings of alienation. But even though she found a way to fit in, doesn’t mean everything was easy while in college. Danielle Green spent five years at the program after rupturing her Achilles, derailing her sophomore season. In 1999, Green earned her psychology degree before returning to Chicago to teach and coach; however, her goals would take her in a new direction.

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Military Service

While in grad school, Green decided to join the Army after feeling a call to serve her country. Rather than use her experience with an ROTC program at her high school and her degree from Notre Dame degree to join the Officer Candidates School, she enlisted instead to work up the ranks. She joined the 571st Military Police Company and deployed to Iraq. On May 25, 2004, her unit was under attack when an RPG caused her to suffer serious wounds. Fortunately, she would escape with her life. However, the strike was close enough to make an impact forever. Not only did she experience severe wounds to her upper left arm and left thigh, but her lower left arm was blown off as a result of the attack. Evacuated to Germany to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, her next stop was stateside at the Walter Reed Army Hospital. It was here that Danielle Green would spend eight months receiving treatment and occupational therapy as she continued to heal from her wounds.

Danielle Green Continues to Inspire the Military Community

Image Source: Tee It Up for the Troops