BIOGRAPHY
Captain Luis Avila embarked on his military career with the United States Army in the year 2000 as an enlisted soldier. Captain Avila holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and computer science, as well as a master’s degree in business and organizational security management from Webster University.
During his tenure as a Military Police Officer, Captain Avila served in various roles, including Force Protection/Safety Officer, Company Executive Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, Assistant S3, and Company Commander. He displayed his dedication through deployments, including one in support of OPERATION NOBLE EAGLE, three in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF), and one in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF).
On December 27, 2011, during his fifth combat deployment to Afghanistan, Captain Avila's unit from the 720th Military Police Battalion, HHD, was struck by a mounted IED, resulting in catastrophic injuries. He lost his left leg, suffered two heart attacks, cardiac arrest, two strokes, and sustained an anoxic and traumatic brain injury, leading to three instances of clinical death.
Following this traumatic incident, Captain Avila was transported to the United States while in a coma and on life support. His family faced the agonizing decision of whether to continue life support. Despite the grim prognosis, they chose to persevere, having faith in Captain Avila's recovery. Music played a pivotal role during his recovery, with the family playing his favorite songs, including "Ode to Joy," military marches, and Beatles tunes, in his hospital room. Eventually, Captain Avila exhibited signs of responsiveness by twitching facial muscles and making deliberate movements with his tongue. He miraculously awoke from his coma, although he faced challenges with vision, eating, and speech.
Captain Avila's rehabilitation journey involved a combination of therapies, including music therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), brain fitness exercises, assistive technology, and adaptive sports. While his speech remains impaired, he continues to make steady progress through speech and music therapy.
Today, Captain Avila actively participates in singing his favorite songs, many of which he first heard while in a coma. He works on breath support, rhythmic phrasing, and melodic phrasing to enhance his speech production. He frequently performs in the community, including at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and various events, such as memorials, galas, and national landmarks like the Supreme Court and Capitol. Notably, he has mastered challenging songs like "God Bless America" and has created an exceptional arrangement of the national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Through unwavering determination, interdisciplinary treatment, and the support of music therapy, Captain Avila has regained some of his vision, improved his speaking abilities, and become a regular performer of patriotic songs in his community. In one remarkable performance, he sang "God Bless America" alongside Rene Fleming, accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra at the 2017 Memorial Day Capital Concert, sharing his story of faith, prayers, hope, love, and his commitment to his country.
Captain Avila collaborates with the Army Band, Air Force Band, and Marines Corp for special performances in the community. He has graced the stage over 100 times in various community events and recently co-authored an article about his journey that was published in a peer-reviewed journal. Furthermore, music therapy unveiled Captain Avila's talent and passion for playing the harmonica, which supports his oral motor and diaphragmatic breath function.
Adaptive sports have played a crucial role in his rehabilitation journey, including completing five Army Ten-Mile races on his recumbent bicycle and achieving first place among Amputee Warrior Men. His dedication and hard work led to his inclusion in Team Army for the 2022 Warrior Games, where he earned multiple medals.
In addition to music and sports, Captain Avila enjoys various activities such as skiing, shooting, club throwing, cycling, swimming, golfing, hunting, and sailing. These activities aid in his rehabilitation and help him reintegrate into his community while providing support to fellow service members. Captain Avila has received numerous honors and medals, including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and The Order of the Marechaussee in Silver.
Currently, Captain Avila resides in Maryland with his family and continues his rehabilitation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda.