The definition of “resilient” is perhaps a rock band by the identical identify, which incorporates three combat-wounded veterans enjoying for patriotic crowds throughout America and making ready to launch their first album in September.
That’s what embellished Marine and drummer Juan Dominguez and his band of brothers are, due to a music remedy program known as MusiCorps and Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters, who introduced the musicians collectively.
“We wish our songs to assist folks get by issues,” Dominguez, 39, of San Diego, California, instructed Fox Information Digital.
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“We wish you to know that everybody is resilient. Everybody has the power to get knocked down and decide themselves up.”
At age 26, Dominguez grew to become a triple amputee when he was struck by an IED whereas serving within the third Battalion, fifth Marines in Afghanistan in 2010.
Music has been a ardour since Juan Dominguez was simply 13 years outdated. (Semper Fi & America’s Fund )
“We have been on a routine patrol, checking a compound of curiosity that we believed was making IEDs,” Dominguez stated.
The air felt tense as they pushed by enemy territory, Dominguez recalled. Straight away, his life modified.
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“I simply keep in mind feeling like someone hit me with a baseball bat,” Dominguez stated.
“After which, filth type of simply browned out every little thing. I could not see something. I do not keep in mind being thrown up within the air. I do not do not forget that feeling, however I do keep in mind slamming down into the bottom.”
Juan Dominguez is photographed whereas serving in Afghanistan in 2010. (Semper Fi & America’s Fund )
Dominguez was hit by an IED and chaos ensued as his comrades labored to avoid wasting him.
“I do not even keep in mind the rescue,” Dominguez stated. “I simply keep in mind the very last thing: My buddy Gonzo making the signal of the cross. I keep in mind being on my again and type of simply wanting up on the sky. The ache was loopy. I used to be screaming to God, ‘If you are going to preserve me, please numb me up. Or if you are going to take me, please take me’ as a result of I by no means felt ache like that ever.”
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The blast resulted within the lack of his proper arm above the elbow and each of his legs above the knees.
Dominguez is fitted with prosthetics after shedding two legs and an arm to an IED in Afghanistan in 2010. (Semper Fi & America’s Fund )
Whereas he was recovering at a hospital in Germany, Dominguez was related with Semper Fi & America’s Fund, a veteran nonprofit that stepped in to supply help on many fronts.
June Cartmill, senior case supervisor at The Fund, has been with Dominguez because the early days of his restoration.
“My job is to go to with the fellows and their households to verify they’ve every little thing they want,” Cartmill instructed Fox Information Digital.
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“Many are away from house taking good care of their service member. Some have to simply stroll away from work — and in case you can’t work, you may’t pay your mortgage. So, we deal with them to allow them to deal with their service member,” he added.
Normal James Mattis visits Dominguez throughout his restoration in Germany’s Landstuhl Regional Medical Heart in 2010. (Semper Fi & America’s Fund )
Cartmill stated wounded troopers, together with Dominguez, face many challenges as they attempt to regain management of their lives.
“In the future you’re complete,” she stated, “and the following day you’re mourning the lack of your limbs and preventing to study to stroll once more. There’s unhappiness as a result of their careers are over and they’re looking for out the place they slot in now.”
“I used to be simply completely happy to be alive at that time. I knew I would determine it out.”
A guitarist for a lot of his life, Dominguez stated he typically quipped that if he have been wounded in fight, he hoped that he wouldn’t lose his arms in order that he may proceed enjoying music.
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“So once I misplaced my arm, everybody freaked out as a result of they thought I used to be going to be very suicidal,” Dominguez stated.
Dominguez is photographed earlier than he was wounded in Afghanistan. (Semper Fi & America’s Fund )
“And for some purpose, no matter purpose, I actually wasn’t. I used to be simply completely happy to be alive at that time. I knew I would determine it out. I felt like God gave me a life for a purpose.”
Music turned out to be a supply of therapeutic in Dominguez’s restoration.
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When Cartmill found his ardour for music, The Fund set him up with an adaptive drum set, and he started studying to play an instrument in an entire new manner.
Additionally they helped Dominguez get again into images by offering him with an adaptive strap that holds the digicam in place so he can modify and snap along with his one hand.
Juan earlier than performing on the Columbus, Ohio, U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs in 2023. (Semper Fi & America’s Fund )
“We extremely help music and artwork as a type of remedy,” Cartmill stated.
“Now Juan is engaged on a patent for an adaptive foot pedal for drums to assist others. He’s making lemonade from his lemons.”
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In the meantime, lead vocalist Tim Donley and guitarist Nate Kalwicki have been rehabilitating at Walter Reed Navy Hospital after struggling their very own devastating accidents in Afghanistan.
They joined MusiCorps, a music program for wounded warriors, and that’s the place they met skilled musician and trainer Greg Loman.
The Resilient pose forward of a efficiency within the Hamptons, New York, on July 4, 2022. (Semper Fi & America’s Fund )
As a part of the MusiCorps Band, they’d the possibility to carry out at The Beacon Theater, Structure Corridor and Madison Sq. Backyard with legendary rocker Roger Waters of Pink Floyd — who had an opportunity assembly with Dominguez and introduced him on board when he realized his expertise.
“He couldn’t consider I performed guitar and even drums,” Dominguez recalled about when he first met Waters on the “Stand Up For Heroes” occasion in 2011.
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“All of it type of spiraled from there. He wished to begin a band of wounded warriors. In 2013, we acquired to play Madison Sq. Backyard and I performed drums. After two gigs with Roger, we gelled and we determined to begin a band.”
Nate Kalwicki’s brother Erik Kalwicki joined the group as bassist, which accomplished the band.
Members reside everywhere in the nation — California, New York, Pennsylvania and Florida — and rehearse on their very own.
The Resilient musical group is photographed in Sag Harbor, New York, for the 2022 Sag Harbor American Music Pageant. (Semper Fi & America’s Fund )
They meet up for numerous gigs all year long, typically acting at occasions that help veterans.
Most just lately, The Resilient headlined a “Salute Our Troops” present at The Villages Polo Membership and performed one other gala occasion in Boca Raton, Florida.
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The band has carried out with musical greats like Yo-Yo Ma, Sheryl Crow, Aaron Neville, G.E. Smith, Ricky Scaggs, the Kansas Metropolis Symphony Orchestra, Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, Tom Morello of Rage In opposition to the Machine, and appeared on some tv reveals.
The Resilient have launched three authentic tracks with seven new songs and an album scheduled to drop in September.
Juan Dominguez and his spouse, Alexis Dominguez, are photographed on their marriage ceremony day. (Juan Dominguez)
The band can be set to play the Sag Harbor Music Pageant in New York for a 3rd yr that month.
Dominguez married his spouse Alexis in 2016 they usually have one baby. He credit The Fund with serving to him get again on his ft, so to talk.
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“They have been there from the start even once I was unconscious and I had no clue what The Fund was,” Dominguez stated.
“They have been serving to my mother with help and steerage and precise bodily issues, whether or not or not it’s a backpack filled with stuff or meals. They even helped me purchase a automotive once I was in a position to drive.”
A band of brothers who’re additionally wounded warriors go by the identify of The Resilient to show that they’re the true definition of their band’s identify. (Semper Fi & America’s Fund )
The Fund turned 20 years outdated final month. It has supplied greater than $330 million in help to greater than 32,000 combat-wounded service members and their households.
“Juan is the image of resiliency,” Cartmill stated.
“Have a look at how he is bounced again and all that he is completed. He is making music, and he is attempting to get into producing music. If that is not resilient, I do not know what’s. He is residing life to the fullest.”
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Whether or not he’s making music or simply residing, Dominguez hopes to encourage others, he stated.
“We’re not attempting to be on a pedestal,” Dominguez stated. “It is extra in hopes that in the event that they see us rolling round with a smile on our face or doing one thing that we love, that it’d infect somebody with a great vibe that they’ll get by their day, they usually can sort out something.”
