The 'Getting Back Up' Tour

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Bryan Crane
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  American300 returned here May 11,2012 for the third time after bringing Team Whiteman the resilient stories of Tom Whittaker, Dan Beery and Sean Colgan.

This time accompanying American300 founder, Robi Powers, on the Air Force Global Strike Command "Never Quit" series was Erin Simmons Nemec and Kurt Yeager. Nemac is a three-time X-Games silver medalist and 2006 Olympics participant in Snowboard Cross. Yeager was an X-Games Bicycle Motocross rider before a motorcycle accident left him as a leg amputee. He is currently the number one adaptive BMXer.

Nemec became the first female to appear with the AFGSC "Never Quit" series. After winning three X-Games silver medals, Nemec joined the Canadian Olympic Team for the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. In what was supposed to be the highlight of her career, Nemec felt her team turned their backs on her.

"They never tried picking me up when I was down or congratulate me when I was doing well, they never had my back," Nemec said. "It wrecked me mentally and emotionally, I was never able to bounce back during the Winter Games."

Nemec failed to qualify for the finals of Snowboard Cross, thus ending her Olympic dream in 2006.


"Coming to Whiteman gives me a chance to tell my story, as well as hearing the Airmen's stories," Nemec said. "I hope we can all take a piece home from our experiences and use it as future advice."

Yaeger led a different path to Whiteman AFB. Yaeger fell in love with BMX riding. He pursued his passion and garnered numerous sponsorships to include Etnies.

Eventually, injuries started to take their toll and he decided to go back to college to pursue a master's degree in hydrogeology. While attending school he was in a motorcycle accident which permanently altered the course of his life.

His left leg was amputated; his right anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament were torn, which are two of the four major ligaments of the human knee. His pelvis was torn in half along with his bladder, seven vertebras were broken, his lungs collapsed, his ribs broken and he suffered a severe concussion.

"I was at an all-time low and in complete pain," Yaeger said. "I didn't want to take it anymore. If it wasn't for my family and friends picking me up and supporting me I wouldn't be here today."

Yaeger has made a full recovery and continues his BMX riding.

"I'm here talking about riding kids bikes," Yaeger added. "But what these Airmen do is real, they are true heroes. I hope they can take something from me and help anyone who is down because they can really save a life."

The "Never Quit" series continues to bring stories of resilient people throughout the year to all the AFGSC bases.