Air Force Staff Sergeant Honored
On 16 May 2015, during the 2nd Annual 4 The Fallen Softball event at the Delcastle Softball Complex in Wilmington, Delaware, 4 The Fallen publicly recognized Air Force Staff Sergeant August O'Niell for his sacrifice to our Nation!
Sgt August O’Niell grew up spending half of his time with his mother in Stonington, Maine and with his father in Miami, Florida. He graduated from Charles W. Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida. After graduation, he began working on a yacht for about a year traveling the world. August joined the Air Force in 2006, to become a Pararescueman. He graduated as a Pararescueman in Dec of 2008 and shortly stationed at Nellis AFB in Nevada. In 2010, SSgt O’Niell was deployed to Djibouti, Africa for 5 months where he had many great experiences including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. In 2011, August was then deployed to Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. Two and a half months into his deployment, on 15 July 2011, His crew was called out to rescue a team of injured marines that were still taking fire and taking casualties. While over the terminal area his helicopter took fire and August was shot through both legs. He was flown from Bagram air base to Germany, then finally to Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio TX. Over the next 3 ½ years August underwent 20 surgeries where he eventually made the decision to have his leg amputated above the knee.
While undergoing Physical Therapy in San Antonio TX August has participated in the 2013 Valor Games where he won the Gold Medal in Kayaking, the 2014 Warrior Games where he won 5 Gold Medals. His teammate Len Anderson won 6 medals making them two of the most decorated athletes in that competition. August is now participating in the National Amputee Boxing Association with his first bout in San Antonio TX. August is also training to return to his team as a fully deployable Pararescueman, living by the motto “these things we do that others may live”.
Some of August’s military service awards and decorations include the Air Force Combat Action Medal, multiple Combat Air Medals, and the Purple Heart.