Nearly 200 Injured Service Members Shine at Warrior Games

San Antonio, Texas – The 2026 Warrior Games recently concluded in San Antonio, showcasing the resilience and determination of nearly 200 service members who competed across 12 adaptive sports. These remarkable athletes are all managing service-related challenges, including physical injuries, traumatic brain injuries, visual impairments, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

A Journey of Survival and Competition

Among the competitors was Army Maj. Jonathan Turnbull, whose life took a dramatic turn in 2019. Following an ISIS suicide bombing attack on his team in Manbij, Syria, Maj. Turnbull was given only 12 hours to live. After enduring seven years and 23 life-saving surgeries, he stood ready to compete.

Maj. Turnbull’s path to service began in 2004, inspired by the September 11th attacks. “On 9/11, I remember the day. Everybody’s got their 9/11 stories, and mine’s just like everybody else’s,” Maj. Turnbull recalled. “I was shocked, appalled, horrified, and motivated after the attacks. I wanted to do something to prevent it from ever happening again.”

For the subsequent 15 years, Maj. Turnbull served as a civil affairs officer for U.S. Special Operations Command, dedicating his efforts to improving lives in war-torn regions. In January 2019, he was scheduled to return from deployment in Syria but chose to extend his mission.

“The Special Operations Task Force commander called me up a couple of weeks prior and said, ‘John, you guys are getting after it. You’re doing a great job. Would you consider sticking around a little longer, just continuing to work to defeat ISIS?’,” Maj. Turnbull explained. “Without hesitation, it was, ‘Yes sir, absolutely. Put me in. Count me in. Let’s do this, you know, for freedom, for justice, for America, let’s go.'”

Tragically, the day he was meant to head home, his team was attacked by an ISIS suicide bomber in Manbij, Syria. “It started with a suicide vest. They had further plans after that, but after the suicide vest, it was catastrophic,” Maj. Turnbull stated. “I could have been home, but… In the defense of freedom, in defense of America, especially our Constitution, like I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

A Wife’s Fear, A Husband’s Triumph

Samantha Turnbull, Maj. Turnbull’s wife, described the harrowing moments of uncertainty. “There was video footage that had gone off of a security camera. And when I saw it, I had actually seen his truck in the video,” she said. “I thought, ‘okay, John’s not here anymore.'”

The blast claimed the lives of four Americans and severely injured two others, including Maj. Turnbull, who lost his right eye and sustained damage to his left. Doctors initially gave him a grim prognosis: only 12 hours to live, with the expectation that he would be unable to walk, talk, or remember if he survived. Defying all odds, nine months after the explosion, Maj. Turnbull completed the Army 10-miler.

“The doctors had told me that it’s not possible… They took my left thigh muscle up and put it over my right eye socket,” Maj. Turnbull shared, adding with conviction, “Don’t tell me what I can’t do. Let me show you what I can.”

Samantha Turnbull witnessed his remarkable recovery. “It was really such a cool moment to see. It was definitely a part of his recovery, where I said, ‘You know what? It’s going to be all right,'” she said. “There was a lot of emotion at that finish line.”

Warrior Games: A Symbol of Capability

Competing as a visually impaired athlete, Maj. Turnbull was a standout for Team SOCOM, participating in archery, cycling, field, indoor rowing, powerlifting, precision air, swimming, and track. “Being here and seeing him competing and doing things he has not done before, it’s really a cool thing to see,” Samantha Turnbull remarked. “I’m, for once, getting to just sit back and take it all in, because it’s kind of like that hug at the end of the finish line where you know what, we’ve done it.”

Maj. Turnbull worked closely with coaches to adapt and master new skills, including swimming techniques for blind athletes. “I can turn a 25-meter pool to a 100-meter pool with these little zigzags going down. I say it in jest, it’s funny, but we talked with the coaches. How do I start swimming straight? Is there a way? How do other blind swimmers do this? And we found a way,” he explained.

The Warrior Games, an eight-day event, brings together service members from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force/Space Force, and SOCOM. “So I view the Warrior Games really as a springboard to what’s next in your life. Ideally, it could be a return to active duty,” stated David Paschal, Director of the Warrior Games.

Prince Harry also attended the games, continuing his support for wounded service members. His involvement with the Warrior Games in 2013 inspired him to establish the Invictus Games, a similar international competition. “Next year, for Birmingham, we’re going to bring 48 athletes to the Invictus games,” Paschal confirmed. “We’ll leave right from training camp downrange to Birmingham to participate in the games and represent the USA.”

In a nation facing challenges with veteran suicide, with approximately 17 veterans dying by suicide daily according to a 2024 Department of Veterans Affairs report, Paschal emphasized the profound impact of the Warrior Games. He believes the competition is instrumental in demonstrating to service members their enduring capabilities, even in the face of significant injuries.