“There are barriers to being a wounded Veteran, for sure, but Mike is living proof you can overcome them.”
Quote from Trent Dilks, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Minnesota Benefits Protection Team Leader, in the July/August issue of DAV Magazine.

The magazine is celebrating MDVA Chief of Staff Mike McElhiney who has been named DAV’s 2021 Outstanding Disabled Veteran of the Year. Mike is a Green Beret Army Veteran who served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and was deployed to Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks of 2001. His deployment was cut short in December 2001 when an American bomb was mistakenly dropped on his position, killing three of his fellow Green Berets and an estimated 24 friendly Afghan fighters.

Mike’s injuries were life threatening and resulted in the loss of his right arm. He has not let that injury hold him back. After recovering, Mike continued his career with the Army until retiring in 2010 after 21 years. He joined MDVA in 2010 and previously served as the agency’s Legislative Director before taking on his current role.

In the DAV Magazine article, MDVA Commissioner Larry Herke says that one of the most significant impacts Mike has had is setting a positive example of what is possible even after a serious injury. “Mike demonstrates every day that you can come back and have a meaningful life—and he wants to help others,” he added. “I think that’s what drives him, both as a past Legislative Director and current Chief of Staff. A lot of people are inspired by his story and what he’s done.”

Read the full article in the July/August issue of DAV Magazine.

DAV will present the 2021 Outstanding Disabled Veteran of the Year award to Mike at their annual conference in late July. Congratulations to Mike on this well-deserved honor!