Injured Vet from Wisconsin Recipient of Harley-Davidson Thanks to Hogs For Heroes
A Wisconsin man is the proud new owner of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle thanks to a program called Hogs For Heroes, founded in 2015 by two avid bike-riding brothers and their wives.
The Hogs For Heroes foundation is a community of motorcycle riders that sponsors and holds fundraising events for various Public Safety, U.S. Military and Wounded Warrior Charities.
They perform Honor Missions for fallen Police Officers, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Workers, Members of the Military killed in Combat Operations and U.S. Military Veterans. They also plan and participate in fun rides, events and fundraisers for other charitable organizations.
The group also accepts applications from Wisconsin veterans who were honorably discharged due to an injury, have a history of passion for motorcycles and have encountered hardships, according to an article by The Star. Those applicants who are chosen receive a motorcycle of their choosing.
“For veteran Marine Scott Kruchten, a motorcycle test ride reawakened his passion,” according to the article. “On May 4, Kruchten became the first recipient of a motorcycle from Hogs For Heroes … After a 13-year hiatus from an IED injury, the Sun Prairie resident will ride a Harley again.”
When he was only 28 Kruchten joined the Marines in 2003. He served in an infantry company in Iraq. In 2004 while he was commanding a Humvee, an IED detonated underneath the vehicle, the article reads. Kruchten was the only survivor out of five other marines.
Kruchten suffered traumatic brain injury as a result of the incident and had his first of many brain injury-induced seizures on an emergency medical flight from Baghdad to Germany. Because of his injury he was under strict orders from the doctor to eliminate risky activities such as sky diving, scuba diving, rock climbing and motorcycling.
Read More: Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney in Wisconsin
“The last mandate was devastating,” the article reads. “Back in Wisconsin, he sold his two motorcycles and returned to his pre-deployment employer, Sauk Prairie Harley-Davidson. He left the job, though, because it was a painful reminder of a former joy.”
Life went on for Kruchten and after years of rehabilitation, a marriage and heavy involvement in his community through veteran organizations – he can now say he hasn’t suffered a seizure in more than 10 years.
He told The Star he’s aware of the risks when it comes to riding, so he will wear a full-face helmet and leather jacket – but he’s ready to climb back on a Harley.
