Still Standing: The Story of SSG John Kriesel, 2018 Updated Edition

by Jim Kosmo

When SSG John Kriesel lost his legs and two buddies in a roadside bomb explosion, no one expected him to survive. He died three times on the operating table. Miracles, a lot of miracles, starting with a few grunts who refused to let him die in Iraq, ripped the young warrior from the grip of death and sent him on to four hospitals, thirty-five surgeries, and months of recovery and rehabilitation. Medical miracles put his body back together, but it was an incredible confluence of angels at every step along the way that breathed life into his shattered body. This is not just another war story. This is the story of an ordinary young man who overcame extraordinary challenges with a lot of help from others, including many strangers and he emerged stronger and more in love with his country, and ultimately, his own life. For more information, please visit stillstandingstory.com

302 pages, Paperback

Published June 19, 2018

About the author

Captain Jim Kosmo is a national award-winning journalist and author, a US Coast Guard-licensed Mississippi riverboat pilot, and former partner of Padelford Riverboat Company in St. Paul, Minnesota. Before joining the family riverboat business, he was a newspaper editor in Nevada and Minnesota and a corporate public relations executive in Minnesota and Illinois.
Kosmo’s newest book, Monsters in the Hallway, is an award-winning mystery novel based largely on his childhood in Eau Claire, WI. His previous book, Still Standing: The Story of Staff Sergeant John Kriesel, is a nonfiction account of a soldier who lost his legs and two buddies in an IED explosion near Fallujah, Iraq. The best-selling motivational book won eight national book awards and is in its eleventh printing.
Kosmo served as president of the Rotary Club of St. Paul (2013-14), founded the Minnesota Valley Branch YMCA, was chair of the Rivers Region of the Passenger Vessel Association, and was mayor of the city of Bayport, MN. He also is business representative on the Minnesota National Guard Senior Advisory Task Force and sits on several health care and education boards.
Kosmo and wife Shelley have a blended family with eight adult children and twelve grandchildren.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been hearing about John for the last year and decided to read his book. I'm sure that we don't share political views but I do share and encourage his can do attitude about life, attitude and relationships. Well done soldier.