Meet John Wayne Walding, an American Hero who was Born on the 4th of July

About this episode

Jon Gordon interviews John Wayne Walding about his journey of resilience and purpose after becoming a below-knee amputee in a firefight in Afghanistan.

On this episode of The Jon Gordon Podcast, I sit down with John Wayne Walding—Green Beret, Purple Heart recipient, and speaker—for an extraordinary conversation about resilience, purpose, and faith in the aftermath of unimaginable adversity. John shares the unforgettable story of April 6th, 2008: a harrowing firefight in Afghanistan that left him a below-knee amputee, fighting to survive while carrying his own leg down a mountain. With honesty and humility, John recounts not only the intense physical and mental battle in the aftermath, but also the spiritual turning points that transformed his pain into gratitude and a new sense of mission. From turbulent early years and military brotherhood to becoming the first amputee to graduate Green Beret sniper school, John's journey is a testament to what it means to move forward when life changes in a moment. Throughout our conversation, John opens up about the process of wrestling with anger, rebuilding his life, and ultimately finding strength through service and faith. We explore themes of identity, finding meaning in suffering, the power of teamwork, and the difference between "believing in God" and truly depending on Him. John also…

People in this episode

Host: Jon Gordon

Guest: John Wayne Walding

Topics covered

• resilience
• purpose
• faith
• adversity
• military
• identity
• service

Keywords

• resilience
• purpose
• faith
• adversity
• military
• Green Beret
• amputee
• inspiration
• teamwork
• addiction

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Green Beret, Purple Heart

Places: Afghanistan, Groesbeck, Texas

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