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Noah Bailey lost his legs in Afghanistan, but is now being groomed to manage Pearson Small Engine Repair in Grass Valley, where he brought a chipper out for a customer earlier this week.
Noah Bailey's war-battered legs still hurt when his weight fluctuates, changing the fit of his prosthetic limbs.
But you won't hear him complain on this Veterans Day.
Four years after a homemade bomb blew him out of the top of a U.S. Army Humvee in Afghanistan and destroyed both legs below the knees, Bailey, 24, is back home in Nevada County and building a future.
“Most people are very supportive, and those who aren't don't say anything,” said Bailey while relaxing a moment at Pearson Small Engine Repair in Grass Valley, his workplace the past two years. “People come in here and talk to me about it and thank me for serving.”
The Purple Heart recipient is working afternoons and some weekends for owner Paul Pearson, who is grooming Bailey to run the business so he can semi-retire and enjoy his family.
“I've known this kid since he kicked my butt skeet shooting when he was 15,” Pearson said. “He's going to manage the place by 2011, and I have every bit of confidence in Noah doing it.
“There is hardly anything he can't do,” Pearson added. “Noah always says, ‘Just don't treat me differently.' ”
Bailey prefers to wear shorts, despite them exposing his prosthetic legs, as regular pants get in the way.
“They're still a pain, but it's just something you have to deal with,” Bailey said of his prosthetics.
“I do pretty much what I could do before,” Bailey said. “They've come a long way with these.
“I went fishing last weekend, and I just got back from a shooting competition.”
Bailey won three bronze medals at the competition in Arizona.
He shot vintage military rifles including the 1903 Springfield from World War I, and the M1 Garand and M1 Carbine from World War II and the Korean War.
“I've been shooting ever since I was a little kid,” Bailey said. “I even do my own reloads” of ammunition.
While Bailey still enjoys shooting, hunting, fishing and hanging out with his buddies, he hasn't yet tried the pair of running legs he received.
“I didn't like running before I got hurt,” he said, although he played linebacker, wrestled and ran track for Nevada Union High School before graduating in 2003.
Although his outside interests and job have brought Bailey peace of mind, he still has to deal with his medical condition.
“In March, I had surgery on my legs, and they took pins out of my hip and scar tissue out of my knees,” Bailey said. “I have arthritis in the knees and I have a rod in my femur the entire length, but they're leaving that alone for now.”
Bailey's rebound was inspired by the thousands of letters he received from Nevada County while he was recovering at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., he said.
“I'd do it all over again,” Bailey said. “I have friends for the rest of my life. I got to live in Italy for 15 months, and Germany.”
For those who are thinking about joining the Armed Forces, Bailey suggests they “think hard about it” before making a decision.
On the plus side, “there's plenty of opportunities, and you can learn a job that's all paid for and then go to college with it,” Bailey said.
He plans to take college courses himself in the future for fun, but has no interest in earning a degree.
For now, the small engine repair job keeps Bailey focused.
“It's nice being able to get up and enjoy going to work,” he said.
Bailey's father, John Callahan, said he couldn't be prouder of his son.
“I admire and respect my son for how he's handled this situation,” Callahan said. “He's my inspiration. He's unflappable.
“Whatever life throws at him, he handles it well,” Callahan added. “I'm so lucky to have a child like this.”
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
But you won't hear him complain on this Veterans Day.
Four years after a homemade bomb blew him out of the top of a U.S. Army Humvee in Afghanistan and destroyed both legs below the knees, Bailey, 24, is back home in Nevada County and building a future.
“Most people are very supportive, and those who aren't don't say anything,” said Bailey while relaxing a moment at Pearson Small Engine Repair in Grass Valley, his workplace the past two years. “People come in here and talk to me about it and thank me for serving.”
The Purple Heart recipient is working afternoons and some weekends for owner Paul Pearson, who is grooming Bailey to run the business so he can semi-retire and enjoy his family.
“I've known this kid since he kicked my butt skeet shooting when he was 15,” Pearson said. “He's going to manage the place by 2011, and I have every bit of confidence in Noah doing it.
“There is hardly anything he can't do,” Pearson added. “Noah always says, ‘Just don't treat me differently.' ”
Bailey prefers to wear shorts, despite them exposing his prosthetic legs, as regular pants get in the way.
“They're still a pain, but it's just something you have to deal with,” Bailey said of his prosthetics.
“I do pretty much what I could do before,” Bailey said. “They've come a long way with these.
“I went fishing last weekend, and I just got back from a shooting competition.”
Bailey won three bronze medals at the competition in Arizona.
He shot vintage military rifles including the 1903 Springfield from World War I, and the M1 Garand and M1 Carbine from World War II and the Korean War.
“I've been shooting ever since I was a little kid,” Bailey said. “I even do my own reloads” of ammunition.
While Bailey still enjoys shooting, hunting, fishing and hanging out with his buddies, he hasn't yet tried the pair of running legs he received.
“I didn't like running before I got hurt,” he said, although he played linebacker, wrestled and ran track for Nevada Union High School before graduating in 2003.
Although his outside interests and job have brought Bailey peace of mind, he still has to deal with his medical condition.
“In March, I had surgery on my legs, and they took pins out of my hip and scar tissue out of my knees,” Bailey said. “I have arthritis in the knees and I have a rod in my femur the entire length, but they're leaving that alone for now.”
Bailey's rebound was inspired by the thousands of letters he received from Nevada County while he was recovering at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., he said.
“I'd do it all over again,” Bailey said. “I have friends for the rest of my life. I got to live in Italy for 15 months, and Germany.”
For those who are thinking about joining the Armed Forces, Bailey suggests they “think hard about it” before making a decision.
On the plus side, “there's plenty of opportunities, and you can learn a job that's all paid for and then go to college with it,” Bailey said.
He plans to take college courses himself in the future for fun, but has no interest in earning a degree.
For now, the small engine repair job keeps Bailey focused.
“It's nice being able to get up and enjoy going to work,” he said.
Bailey's father, John Callahan, said he couldn't be prouder of his son.
“I admire and respect my son for how he's handled this situation,” Callahan said. “He's my inspiration. He's unflappable.
“Whatever life throws at him, he handles it well,” Callahan added. “I'm so lucky to have a child like this.”
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
