Wounded warrior receives surprise promotion

Published May 7, 2009
By Sue Campbell
59th Medical Wing Public Affairs

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Staff Sgt. Daniel Acosta woke May 7 thinking he was a senior airman. He was happily surprised to discover that he was promoted to staff sergeant without his knowledge.

Lt. Col. Michael Glass, 59th Medical Support Squadron commander, advised Sergeant Acosta that Lt. Gen. Richard Newton, U.S. Air Force Manpower and Personnel deputy chief of staff, approved the promotion with an effective date of Nov. 1, 2008.

"I am really happy and excited about this promotion," said Sergeant Acosta. "It was such a surprise."

Sergeant Acosta, an explosive ordnance technician from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, was injured in December 2005 by an explosion while he was deployed to Iraq. He was transported to Wilford Hall Medical Center where he has been assigned to the 59th Patient Squadron while he received medical treatment and therapy. The explosion resulted in the loss of his left arm.

"Dan has helped us forge a new path for Air Force wounded warriors," said Colonel Glass. "It was not easy for him to suffer the wounds he suffered but he pushed ahead. You can see videos and stories about him on the Air Force Wounded Warrior Web site. We owe him our thanks."

"I have met a lot of great people during my recovery process," said Sergeant Acosta, who is scheduled to retire on March 31, 2009.

For more information about Air Force wounded warriors and wounded warrior programs, access www.woundedwarrior.af.mil.