Eddie Beesley is a Marine and proudly so. In the Corps there is no such thing as ex-Marines or former Marines. Eddie has gone on with his life despite an event, which probably would have destroyed most people. But a Marine is made of different stuff.

It was from a war 40 years ago, that left a scar on a nation - still dealing today with its aftermath.  For Beesley, the challenges and the pain were more acute as he stepped on a land mine in Vietnam in August 1965 - losing both legs above the knee. In his book, he relates the drama of trying to stay alive despite immense pain that even morphine couldn't numb.  A personal battle cry came to him while laying dying in Vietnam, as he recalled in his book.

"SUCK IT UP MARINE. This is what it's all about - to do or die. It's gut-check time."

Recovery was a long process, but it got a major boost at Oakland Naval Hospital in California, where he met and would eventually marry Connie Gaudette. Eventually he graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma and founded a business, Beesley's Adaptive Equipment Co., which he operated for 18 years. The business provided help to others disabled.  A trip to the Vietnam Memorial Wall in 1995 started the ground work for a what would become his book, "Lucky Enough."  He's chronicles his life and the challenges from the injury.  He follows the Marine creed of "improvise and overcome."  His book "Lucky Enough," was originally meant only for family members; yet, so much pressure to get the book in the publics hands led him and his wife to speaking events across the country, on continued visits to military members and on the road to promoting his new book.  The book has received a lot of press, as well as, many positive reviews.  It is a must read!