The ejection seat is perhaps the most important safety technology for a pilot. But during a 1976 training session, it failed U.S. Air Force veteran Chuck Graf. The seat malfunctioned, ejecting him with violent force, leaving him with a spinal injury.
Though initially cleared to fly, the injury’s effects lingered, eventually leading to chronic pain and mobility issues. Decades later, MRIs revealed a fractured vertebra, significantly impacting Chuck’s daily life and making simple tasks, like standing or walking, painful and challenging at best.
Chuck served for 25 years, rising through the ranks, retiring as a colonel. His proudest moment was leading airmen at Travis Air Force Base, CA, during the Gulf War. His service to our country protected our freedom, even while sacrificing some of his independence.
“When my spinal injury started progressing in the late 2000s, I started avoiding anything that could trigger the pain,” Chuck says. “I became reluctant to go out in public, especially alone.”
Knowing his future would be harder as his condition worsened, Chuck eventually reached out to Canine Companions. Service Dog Navy would be the one to change his life.
“Navy has given me back my independence,” he remarks. “I can’t imagine life without him.”
“It’s been nothing short of remarkable,” Chuck reflects. “Living with chronic pain and mobility restrictions can be isolating. I’ve regained the confidence I used to have, thanks to Navy.”
Navy has given Chuck the physical support he needs to return to the world outside of his home. Chuck uses his newfound freedom to help others. He successfully completed a 5-mile swim fundraiser challenge for cancer—a cause close to his heart as a cancer survivor himself. Navy makes this possible.
Without his help carrying equipment to and from the locker room, Chuck wouldn’t be able to swim at all. Now, Chuck is no longer afraid he’ll drop something and be unable to bend over to get it – Team Navy’s got it covered.
“Navy has given me back my independence,” he remarks. “I can’t imagine life without him.”
