Today is my “Alive Day”. On august 6th 2010 I stepped on an IED. I lived and Daniel Greer died. I spend 364 days a year dreading today. The emotions surrounding today are too complex and difficult to explain. I am overwhelmed with a wave of guilt and gratitude that feels inseparable and at times indistinguishable from one another. I wish 1000 times over Daniel Greer had lived and I had died that day. Yet, because he made that sacrifice I’m here and so is my daughter. I’ll spend the first few hours of this bittersweet anniversary in the middle seat of a @delta redeye home from Phoenix… its quite apropos to be reminded that even discomfort is a blessing when you shouldn’t be alive to feel it.
On August 6, 2010, @Johnny_Joey stepped on an IED; he survived while fellow…
Brief
Johnny_Joey marks August 6 as his "Alive Day" after stepping on an IED on August 6, 2010 that killed Daniel Greer and left him alive. He describes 364 days of dread and a complex mixture of guilt and gratitude, wishes Greer had lived instead, and spent the anniversary on a Delta redeye middle seat from Phoenix, reflecting that discomfort can feel like a blessing.
Why it matters
On August 6, 2010, @Johnny_Joey stepped on an IED; he survived while fellow service member Daniel Greer died.
Key details
- He spends 364 days a year dreading the anniversary and reports being overwhelmed by intertwined guilt and gratitude, repeatedly wishing Daniel had lived and he had died.
- On the 2026 anniversary he spent the first hours in the middle seat of a Delta redeye from Phoenix and credits Daniel’s sacrifice with his and his daughter’s survival.