“It makes me feel whole” — Purple Heart veteran on life with the world’s most rugged bionic arm

U.S. Army Military Police soldier Danielle Green lost her left arm in combat while serving in Baghdad. Two decades later, she has become the first U.S. veteran to be fitted with the Hero RGD™, the world’s most advanced and rugged bionic arm. Her device features custom purple trimmed covers inspired by the Purple Heart she was awarded, created in collaboration with the Call of Duty Endowment. Here, she shares her journey in her own words.

The Day Everything Shifted.

On May 25, 2004, my life took a turn I could never have imagined.

I was serving as a U.S. Army Military Police soldier on a rooftop in Baghdad when a rocket propelled grenade almost hit a barricade two stories below. I grabbed my M4, got into position, and then another grenade landed near me. In an instant, my left arm was gone.

Because of my teammates’ quick actions, I was rushed to safety. Lying there, I thought my life was ending. I prayed, “God, I do not know what I have done in this lifetime, but give me the strength to live, to be able to tell my story.”

Finding Purpose. Speaking and Advocacy.

That prayer carried me forward. In the years that followed, I discovered purpose in sharing my journey. I began speaking to veterans, civilians, and young people, and I worked with the Wounded Warrior Project. Telling my story helped me heal, and it helped others too. I came to understand what I call post traumatic growth. My life was no longer just about survival, it became about helping others see what is possible.

Going Bionic on a World Stage.

When Open Bionics reached out, it felt like another step in that mission. Two decades after my injury, I became the first US veteran to be fitted with the Hero RGD™.

My purple heart bionic arm design was inspired by the Purple Heart I was awarded for my service in Iraq. Together with the Call of Duty Endowment, we created something that felt truly mine. I unveiled it at Call of Duty Endowment Bowl VI, standing alongside players, veterans, and the gaming community.

The Purple Heart design makes it personal, like carrying my medal every day. My hope is that other veterans see it as a sign of strength and possibility. I love the finer design details. My arm covers are inscribed with the date of my combat injury and the words “Never Broken,” just like the character in the game.

What Makes Hero RGD Different?

The Hero RGD was shaped by the voices of more than 1,000 people with upper limb differences who wanted a prosthetic that could keep up with life. Built with titanium joints and strong Nylon PA12, it is designed for work, weather, and daily use. It is also the first fully wireless bionic arm and the first to be fully water resistant as standard.

Its grips are fast and precise, closing in less than half a second. With it, I can lift, handle tools, and take on two-handed daily activities like cooking.

View Tech Specs

The Call of Duty Endowment Connection.

The Call of Duty Endowment has also been a big part of this journey. Since 2009, it has helped more than 125,000 veterans find meaningful work, with a goal of reaching 100,000 more by 2030. That mission speaks to me. In the military, we never leave anyone behind. That value stayed with me, helping whoever I can, just as my teammates helped me survive that day in Baghdad.

Rebuilding Independence After Injury.

My road to recovery began at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. As someone who grew up left handed, I had to relearn daily tasks with my right hand. It was a long process, but each new prosthetic gave me pieces of independence back: a body powered hook, a cosmetic arm, and later myoelectric devices. With them, I returned to things I loved — golfing, fishing, skiing, even training with a custom arm for Paralympic cycling.

Choosing Growth Over Retreat.

The biggest challenge was not only physical, but emotional. There were moments when I thought about staying home, closing myself off. But I reminded myself: “That is not who you are.”

I went to the health club, and people approached me. As I shared my story, I discovered that it helped them too. I tell people I never developed PTSD, I developed post traumatic growth.

Sharing my journey became part of my healing. It gave others hope, whether they were veterans or civilians facing struggles of their own. That became my mission: not to keep my story locked inside, but to let it blossom.

Continuing to Serve in New Ways.

This collaboration with Open Bionics and Call of Duty Endowment feels like another way to serve. In Baghdad, I had eight teammates with me when I was injured. Every one of them played a part in keeping me alive. If anyone had failed, I would not be here. That memory reminds me daily to help whoever I can.

I never imagined I would be here today, serving in a new way in the gaming community, in the prosthetic community, bringing worlds together.

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