In 2013, 24-year-old Cpl. Joshua Hargis was one of 14 troops injured during a night combat operation in Afghanistan. He lost both of his legs to an IED.
One week after he was injured, Joshua was awarded with a Purple Heart medal in a simple ceremony held from his hospital bed. His wife Taylor stood beside him and snapped a photo of him draped in a red, white and blue blanket.
Everyone in the room, including rangers, doctors and nurses, assumed Joshua was unconscious — but then the hero did something that shocked the world.
"Despite his wounds, wrappings, tubes, and pain, Josh fought the doctor who was trying to restrain his right arm and rendered the most beautiful salute any person in that room had ever seen."
Taylor posted a photo of the salute online and it went viral. But Josh's story was far from over.
