He had a huge smile on his face, unlike most Soldiers walking into the gym. As he entered the free-weight area, there was a bounce in his step even though the sun still hadn't come up. He was soft spoken with a deep voice, but not shy at all.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Tawan A. Williamson Sr. is a human resource technician for the 6th Military Police Group, Criminal Investigation Division and a continuation on active duty Soldier. A COAD Soldier is one who has suffered a disability, like an amputation, but can still fulfill their military requirements.

Williamson said that he has dealt with a lot of doubters during his military career. Some doubted his mental abilities when he first joined the military, while others doubted his physical abilities after losing the lower half of his left leg.

"My basic training drill sergeant told me that the Army wasn't for me," Williamson said. "I guess because he thought that I was a gangster or a thug. I never thought that I was a thug or that I was better than anybody, but I did always want to be somebody. So, I think that the Army was a great tool for me to advance and gain discipline to carry on with my life."

Williamson started his Army career in 1994 as a 75E, records specialist. As an enlisted Soldier, he deployed twice, first to Bosnia in 1998, the second to Iraq in 2005. In Iraq, Williamson's life changed drastically.

"As we were going through an underpass my truck got hit by an IED," Williamson said. "(I was) the only one in the vehicle to get injured, causing damage to my left leg and my right foot. Once it happened, my battalion commander radioed back to my vehicle and asked what was going on and I told him that our vehicle has just been hit and I think I'm injured."

The medic pulled him out of the vehicle and administered first aid.

"I never lost consciousness and I remember (medic) Spc. Kyle telling me, ‘It's going to be OK.' Even though I couldn't feel any sensation in my leg, she propped it up somehow so that it looked like everything was still there."

After stops at two Army hospitals on his way back to the U.S., Williamson chose Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas for his care to be close to his girlfriend, now his wife. It was there that he would have to make a life changing decision.

"On the 17th of June I elected to have my leg amputated," Williamson said. "If the medics didn't receive the training that they received, I can assure you that I probably wouldn't be here today. I love the medics and I love the medical field."

A medical review board deemed Williamson unfit for active duty, but he appealed and was granted COAD status. "I knew what I wanted to do once my board results came back," Williamson said. "I knew that if I could, I wanted to stay in. Since then, there have been no limits to my military career in my eyes."

Two leadership paths opened to him, despite his injury. Williamson followed through on his earlier intention to submit a warrant officer packet, and while he awaited that result, he was promoted to master sergeant. He was soon forced to make a decision whether to continue his enlisted career or attend Warrant Officer Candidate School. He chose to follow his dream, maintain his positive outlook as a warrant officer.