Blind veteran's quest for the Explorer's Grand Slam - Tango Alpha Lima

Navy veteran Lonnie Bedwell lost his sight in a hunting accident in 1997. He was 30 years old, blind, and raising three daughters alone. What he did next is the kind of story that makes you rethink every excuse you've ever made.

In episode 303 of Tango Alpha Lima, Bedwell shares his extraordinary journey — from talking his way onto a construction crew as a blind man, to kayaking 226 miles through the Grand Canyon (earning National Geographic's Adventurer of the Year), to summiting Mount Everest with a failed oxygen mask 750 feet from the top.

Now Bedwell is one expedition away from making history. He has summited six of the Seven Summits and skied to the South Pole. When he reaches the North Pole, he will become the first blind American to complete the Explorer's Grand Slam — an achievement fewer than 75 people in history have accomplished.

His journey is the subject of a feature documentary called Beyond Vision. "I lost my eyesight," he says. "I gained vision."

Also in this episode: the VA's new Artificial Intelligence tool and what it means for your appointments, plus three new laws signed into law that expand housing access, improve VA accountability, and strengthen job training for veterans.

SHOW NOTES

• Download the VA Health and Benefits mobile app
• Join The American Legion
• Learn more about Lonnie Bedwell
• Learn more about the film "Beyond Vision"
• Join The American Legion Family USA 250 Challenge
• New VA Database causes concern among lawmakers
• AI tool helps VA doctors minimize administrative tasks and focus on patients
• View American Legion Legislative Agenda
• Check out The American Legion Grassroots Action Center
• Learn more about American Legion Advocacy