Israel Del Toro
{{Short description|Retired Air Force senior master sergeant (born 1975)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Israel Del Toro
| image = Israel Del Toro by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Del Toro in 2023
| nickname = DT
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|04|27}}
| birth_place = Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| placeofburial =
| allegiance = United States
| branch = United States Air Force
| serviceyears = 1997–2019
| rank = Senior master sergeant
| servicenumber =
| unit =
| battles = Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
| awards = Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
| relations =
| laterwork = Motivational speaker
| website = {{URL|https://deltorostrong.com/}}
}}
Israel Del Toro (born April 27, 1975) is an American motivational speaker and a retired senior master sergeant in the United States Air Force. After a Humvee in which he was travelling drove over an improvised explosive device, he suffered burns to 80 percent of his body, was badly disfigured, and fell into a coma for three months. Although his odds of survival were placed at 15 percent, he eventually recovered, and became the first airman to reenlist after being deemed 100 percent disabled. After his retirement from the Air Force, Del Toro became a motivational speaker.
Early life
Israel "DT" Del Toro was born in Joliet, Illinois, on April 27, 1975.{{Cite web |title=Del Toro, Israel |url=https://goefoundation.org/eagles/del-toro-israel/#:~:text=Sgt%20Israel%20%E2%80%9CDT%E2%80%9D%20Del%20Toro,killed%20by%20a%20drunk%20driver. |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=Gathering of Eagles Foundation}} Del Toro lost both of his parents at a young age. When he was twelve, his father died of a heart attack, and at fourteen, his mother died in a collision with a drunk driver. Following the death of his parents, he began to raise his three younger siblings alongside his grandparents. In 1993, he graduated from Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Illinois.{{Cite news |last=Traut |first=Lauren |date=September 30, 2023 |title=Village To Host Purple Heart Recipient, Author Israel Del Toro, Jr. |url=https://patch.com/illinois/newlenox/village-host-purple-heart-recipient-author-israel-del-toro |access-date=August 18, 2024 |work=Patch}} Dissatisfied with a job at an ammonia plant, he decided to join the Air Force in 1997.
Military career and injury
Del Toro joined the Air Force as a Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) apprentice; his main responsibility was to call for air support.{{Cite news |last=Hudson |first=Amy |date=October 30, 2017 |title=Israel Del Toro: Like a Phoenix |url=https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/israel-del-toro-like-a-phoenix/ |access-date=August 18, 2024 |work=Air and Space Forces Magazine}} He saw action in Bosnia in March 2001 and in the Iraq War, earning a Bronze Star Medal for his service. In August 2005, Del Toro deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.{{Cite news |last=Derby |first=Dianne |date=July 13, 2023 |title=Local hero's book 'A Patriot's Promise' details how promise to his father helped him cope with burn injury |url=https://www.koaa.com/news/covering-colorado/local-heros-book-a-patriots-promise-details-how-promise-to-his-father-helped-him-cope-with-burn-injury |access-date=August 18, 2024 |work=KOAA}}
On December 4, 2005, while on a mission to neutralize a high-value target, Del Toro's Humvee struck an improvised explosive device. He later recounted feeling a "intense heat blast" and being "on fire from head to toe." After he collapsed, a member of the team carried him to a nearby creek; others kept him awake until medical evacuation could arrive.{{Cite news |last=Strayer |first=Kayla |date=November 16, 2018 |title='I was on fire from head to toe' - Veteran inspires others after nearly dying at war |url=https://newschannel9.com/news/local/i-was-on-fire-from-head-to-toe-veteran-inspires-others-after-nearly-dying-at-war |access-date=August 18, 2024 |work=News Channel 9}} While receiving medical attention, Del Toro successfully instructed a soldier to call for an airstrike in his stead. He was evacuated by helicopter to a field hospital.
File:SMSgt Israel Del Toro Visits SMC (5194284).jpeg
After reaching the hospital, Del Toro fell into a coma until March of the following year. He received burns to 80 percent of his body, lost roughly 85 pounds, and nearly died on three occasions from burns to his lungs. Doctors believed that he had a 15 percent chance of surviving his injuries, and that he would never be able to walk or breathe without the use of a respirator. To avoid infections, parts of his skin were removed. After waking from his coma at Brooke Army Medical Center, he was kept from seeing his own reflection due to his disfigured state. Upon accidentally seeing himself in a mirror for the first time, he became despondent, fearing that his young son would see him as a monster. However, he later recalled that when he reunited with his son in May 2006, his son quickly embraced him, despite how unrecognizable he was compared to his former appearance. He credited his therapist with greatly aiding his mental recovery after the explosion.
Despite the severity of Del Toro's injuries, after five years and over 100 surgeries, he eventually recovered his strength. Given the choice between retiring from the Air Force and reenlisting as a TACP instructor, Del Toro chose to remain in the Air Force, becoming the first airman to reenlist after being deemed 100 percent disabled.{{Cite news |date=February 10, 2010 |title=Severely Burned USAF Sergeant Re-Enlists After IED Blast |url=https://abcnews.go.com/WN/israel-del-toro-severely-burned-air-force-sergeant-re-enlists/story?id=9798372 |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=ABC News}} He won a gold medal in shot put at the 2016 Invictus Games{{Cite news |last=Collins |first=Shannon |date=May 12, 2016 |title=Del Toro inspires others during Invictus Games, earns gold at shot put |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/757506/del-toro-inspires-others-during-invictus-games-earns-gold-at-shot-put/ |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=United States Air Force}} and was subsequently selected to the World Class Athlete Program as a parathlete, allowing him to train in shot put ahead of the 2016 Summer Paralympics.{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Shanna |date=July 11, 2017 |title=Disabled Vet 'DT' Del Toro, A Champion Shot-Putter, Aims For Paralympics |url=https://www.cpr.org/show-segment/disabled-vet-dt-del-toro-a-champion-shot-putter-aims-for-paralympics/ |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=Colorado Public Radio}} He also instructed parachuting at the Air Force Academy, training cadets with the 98th Flying Training Squadron.{{Cite news |last=Van Winkle |first=John |date=February 28, 2017 |title=Wounded Warrior 'DT' returns to the skies, parachutes into new job |url=https://www.usafa.af.mil/News/Features/Article/1097918/wounded-warrior-dt-returns-to-the-skies-parachutes-into-new-job/ |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=United States Air Force Academy}} He retired from the Air Force in 2019 as a senior master sergeant.{{Cite news |date=July 19, 2020 |title=Retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Israel Del Toro |url=https://bobwoodrufffoundation.org/retired-air-force-senior-master-sergeant-israel-del-toro/ |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=Bob Woodruff Foundation}}
File:U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro throws a shotput during the 2016 Invictus Games.jpg|213x213px]]
Personal life
Del Toro is married to Carmen Del Toro; the two have a son also named Israel, who was three years old when the explosion occurred.{{Cite web |title=Injured TACP feels lucky to serve |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000529298/ |access-date=August 19, 2024 |website=United States Air Force}} He received the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 25th ESPY Awards.{{Cite news |date=June 28, 2017 |title=Israel Del Toro wins Pat Tillman Award for Service |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/19757634/air-force-sgt-israel-del-toro-wins-pat-tillman-award |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=ESPN}} He is a graduate of the University of Illinois, and a fan of sports, especially field events.{{Cite news |last=de Yoanna |first=Michael |date=May 31, 2018 |title=Wounded Warrior Israel Del Toro's Advice For Life And Sports: 'Never Effing Quit' |url=https://www.kunc.org/world/2018-05-31/wounded-warrior-israel-del-toros-advice-for-life-and-sports-never-effing-quit |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=KUNC}} After his retirement from the Air Force, Del Toro became a motivational speaker. He made an appearance in the third episode of Bumping Mics with Jeff Ross & Dave Attell.{{Cite news |date=December 5, 2018 |title=Wounded warrior displays his sense of humor on new Netflix series |url=https://www.stripes.com/migration/wounded-warrior-displays-his-sense-of-humor-on-new-netflix-series-1.559306 |access-date=September 7, 2024 |work=Stars and Stripes}} In 2022, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation gifted Del Toro and his family a smart home in Peyton, Colorado.{{Cite news |last=Derby |first=Dianne |date=October 20, 2022 |title=Wounded Air Force Veteran and family receive new mortgage-free home |url=https://www.koaa.com/community/you-are-not-alone/tunnel-to-towers-foundation-to-welcome-air-force-veteran-israel-del-toro-jr-and-family-to-new-mortgage-free-home |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=KOAA}}
References
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Category:American disabled sportspeople
Category:American male shot putters
Category:American motivational speakers
Category:Competitors in athletics with limb difference
Category:People from Joliet, Illinois
Category:United States Air Force airmen