About 200 wounded US service members will compete in the 2026 ‘Army Games’.
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SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Army Chief Jonathan Turnbull was given 12 hours to live after an ISIS terrorist attacked his group in Manbij, Syria in 2019. Seven years and 23 life-saving surgeries later, he competed in the 2026 Warrior Games in San Antonio, Texas.
Nearly 200 service members are competing in 12 dynamic sports during the 2026 Army Games. All athletes have some type of service-related illness such as physical injury, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment or PTSD.
The 9/11 attacks inspired Maj. Turnbull to enlist in the US Army in 2004.
“On 9/11, I remember the day. Everyone has their own 9/11 stories, and mine is the same as other people’s,” said Maj. Turnbull. “I was shocked, shocked, scared and inspired after the attack. I wanted to do something to prevent it from happening again.”
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Maj. Jonathan Turnbull enlisted in the US Army in 2004. (Samantha Turnbull)
Over the next 15 years, Maj. Turnbull was involved in several projects to improve the lives of people living in war-torn areas as a public affairs officer for the US Special Operations Command.
On Jan. 15, 2019, Maj. Turnbull was due to return from deployment in Syria. He decided to stay.
“The commander of the Special Operations Task Force called me a few weeks earlier and said, ‘John, you’re going to follow him. You’re doing a great job. Would you consider staying longer, continuing to work to defeat ISIS?'” said Maj. Turnbull. “Without a doubt, it was, ‘Yes sir, absolutely. Include me. Count me in. Let’s do this, you know, for freedom, justice, America, let’s go.’
An ISIS fighter attacked his team in Manbij, Syria the day after he was supposed to go home.
“It started with the suicide vest. They had other plans after that, but after the suicide vest, it was a disaster,” said Maj. Turnbull. “I could be at home, but… In defense of freedom, defense of America, especially our Constitution, like I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Maj. Jonathan Turnbull was given 12 hours to live after the 2019 ISIS suicide bombing in Manbij, Syria. (Samantha Turnbull)
“There was a video that came out of the security camera. And when I saw it, I saw his truck on the video,” said Samantha Turnbull, Maj.’s wife. Turnbull. “I thought, ‘OK, John’s not here anymore.’
This explosion killed four Americans and injured two, including Maj.
Maj. Jonathan Turnbull lost his right eye and punctured his left eye during an ISIS suicide bombing in Manbij, Syria in 2019. (FOX News)
Doctors gave Maj. Turnbull only had 12 hours to live and they said that if he survived, he would never be able to walk, talk or remember things again.
Nine months after the explosion, Maj. Turnbull ran the Army 10-miler.
“The doctors had told me that it would not happen… They raised the muscle of my left thigh and placed it over the sock of the right eye,” Maj. Turnbull said, “Don’t tell me what I can’t do. Let me show you what I can do.”
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“It was a really cool moment to see. It was definitely part of his recovery, when I said, ‘You know what? It’s going to be okay,'” Samantha Turnbull said. “There was a lot of emotion at the finish line.”
Maj. Jonathan Turnbull completed the Army 10-miler nine months after being injured by an ISIS suicide bomber in Syria. (Samantha Turnbull)
Maj. Turnbull is competing in the 2026 ‘Army Games’ as a totally blind man. He was the ‘Ultimate Champion’ of the SOCOM team, competing in archery, cycling, field, indoor rowing, powerlifting, precision air, swimming and track.
“To be here and see him compete and do things he’s never done before, it’s a really cool thing to see,” said Samantha Turnbull. “And for once, I just sit back and take it all in, because it’s like a hug at the end of the line when you know what, we did it.”
Before the games, Maj. Turnbull worked with coaches to learn how to overcome his blindness to compete with other competitors.
“I can turn a 25-meter pool into a 100-meter pool with these small zigzags going down. I say it jokingly, it’s funny, but we talked to the coaches. How can I start swimming straight? Is there a way? How do other blind swimmers do this? And we found a way,” said Maj. Turnbull.
The ‘Warrior Games’ is an eight-day competition for service members in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force/Space Force and SOCOM.
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“So I look at ‘Warrior Games’ as a foundation for what’s next in your life. Ideally, it would be to go back to active duty,” said the Director of ‘Warrior Games’, David Paschal.
Prince Harry visited with the athletes on Sunday. He first attended the ‘Warrior Games’ in 2013 while serving in the British Army as a helicopter pilot. That visit inspired Harry to create the ‘Invictus Games,’ a parallel competition for service members from 25 countries.
Prince Harry visited the athletes at the 2026 ‘Warrior Games’.
“Next year, in Birmingham, we will bring 48 athletes to the Invictus games,” said Paschal. “We will go from training camp to Birmingham to participate in the games and represent the USA.”
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In 2024, the Department of Veterans Affairs reported that approximately 17 veterans die by suicide every day. Paschal said ‘Hero Games’ really saves lives because it shows service members what they are still able to do despite their injuries.
