He simply refers to the 2011 day in which an IED nearly killed him in Afghanistan as a rare “bad day in the Marine Corps.”

Capt. Antoine Bates, Expeditionary Warfare School, lost the lower part of his left leg and other suffered extensive injuries from the blast, but has refused to let that awful day forever define him or limit him in any way. He’s made it his personal mission to make sure other wounded warriors feel likewise as they move on with their lives.

In his duties as executive officer, commanding officer and detachment operations officer for Charlie Company, Wounded Warrior-East at the Walter Reed National Military Center, Bates took it upon himself to mentor other combat-wounded Marines and their families in dealing with their new normal and upcoming transitions even as he was undergoing his own rehabilitation. A 32-year-old Cleveland native, Bates was instrumental in the planning and executing of numerous events for the detachment including employments, retirement ceremonies, professional development classes, financial guidance classes and various guest speaker events.

For his tireless efforts, Bates, who arrived in Quantico in July, was recently awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal by Col. Todd S. Tomko, commanding officer, Wounded Warrior Regiment, for the planning and coordinating of more than 200 wounded warrior events.

“I think it was important to help,” Bates said. “Sometimes [the wounded warriors] get lost in the good ideas from the people who want to help, but don’t know how to help. Everybody’s telling them how great they are, but none of that stuff is going to pay the bills. I just wanted to let guys know what options they have.”

Tomko lauded Bates as an inspiration for all Marines, calling him “a sterling example of what one CAN do as opposed to what someone CAN’T do.”

“Capt. Bates is a stellar example of a warrior who can take a traumatic hit to his mind and body and – because of his resiliency in being (and staying) a Marine and following a healing process – can continue on,” Tomko said via e-mail. “Not only did this fine officer take the initiative in his own process, but also saw a gap in the lines and filled in where this regiment had a gap in personnel – he simply answered the call of duty.”































That was just the idea, Bates said.































“That was probably the only reason I joined the Marine Corps,” he said. “I love the Marines. I love the people. I love being able to help Marines. They’re the reason I got in and the reason why I’m staying in.”