Editing Max Cleland (section)

== Early life and military service ==
Cleland was born on August 24, 1942, in [[Atlanta]], the son of Juanita Wilda (Kesler) and Joseph Hughie Cleland.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Galloway|first1=Jim|last2=Badertscher|first2=Nancy|date=November 9, 2021|title=Former VA administrator and Georgia senator Max Cleland dies at home|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/former-va-administrator-and-georgia-senator-max-cleland-dies-at-home/DWPONQVGLNBYDEJE6BMSW5LE2A/|access-date=November 10, 2021|website=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]}}</ref> He grew up in [[Lithonia, Georgia|Lithonia]], Georgia, and graduated from [[Stetson University]] in the class of 1964, where he was a member of the [[Lambda Chi Alpha]] [[fraternity]]. Cleland was named outstanding senior in high school.<ref>{{cite web |title=Strong at the Broken Places |url=http://josephsoninstitute.org/public/resources/poc_cleland_strong-broken-places.html |website=Josephson Institute |access-date=October 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019082902/http://josephsoninstitute.org/public/resources/poc_cleland_strong-broken-places.html |archive-date=October 19, 2014  }}</ref> He went on to receive a master's degree from [[Emory University]].<ref name="wapo-obit" />

Cleland then served in the [[United States Army]] during the [[Vietnam War]], attaining the rank of [[Captain (United States)|captain]]. He was awarded the [[Silver Star]] and the [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] for valorous action in combat, including during the [[Battle of Khe Sanh]] on April 4, 1968.<ref name="wapo-obit">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Harrison |title=Max Cleland, Vietnam War veteran who led VA and served in Senate, dies at 79 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/max-cleland-dead/2021/11/09/cb0afb9c-7520-11eb-8115-9ad5e9c02117_story.html |access-date=November 9, 2021 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=November 9, 2021}}</ref>

===Injury at Khe Sanh===
In 1968, Captain Cleland was the Battalion Signal Officer serving with the 2nd Battalion, [[12th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|12th Cavalry Regiment]], [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]] during the [[Battle of Khe Sanh]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.first-team.us/journals/12thrgmt/12_ndx05.html |title=12th Cavalry Regiment – Vietnam War |access-date=October 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917025804/http://www.first-team.us/journals/12thrgmt/12_ndx05.html |archive-date=September 17, 2008}}</ref>
On April 8, with a month left in his tour, Cleland was ordered to set up a radio relay station on a nearby hill. A [[helicopter]] flew him and two soldiers to the treeless top of Hill 471, east of [[Khe Sanh]]. When the helicopter landed, Cleland jumped out, followed by the two soldiers. They ducked because of the rotor wash and turned to watch the liftoff. Cleland reached down to pick up a [[grenade]] he believed had dropped off his [[flak jacket]]. It then exploded, the blast slamming him backward, shredding both his legs and one arm.<ref name="wapo-obit" />

David Lloyd, a [[U.S. Marine]] in a nearby mortar bunker, rushed to the scene, took off his web belt and tied it around one of Cleland's legs to control bleeding.<ref>[http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-1999-03-19/html/CREC-1999-03-19-pt1-PgS2992.htm] Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 44 (Friday, March 19, 1999) pages S2992-S2993</ref>

Lloyd said the unnamed soldier was crying. "It was mine," he said, "it was my grenade." According to Lloyd, the private had failed to take the extra precaution experienced soldiers did when they grabbed [[M26 grenade]]s from the ammo box: bend the pins, or tape them in place, so they couldn't accidentally dislodge. This soldier had a flak jacket full of grenades with straight pins. "He was a walking death trap."<ref>Thompson, Neal. "30 Years of Self-Loathing, and Then, Finally, the Truth." ''[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]'' December 5, 1999: 1. Find Articles. October 11, 2006.</ref>

Due to the severity of his wounds, doctors amputated both of Cleland's legs above the knee, and his right forearm. He was 25 years old.<ref>"Max Cleland." ''Contemporary Heroes and Heroines'', Book IV. Gale Group, 2000.</ref>