John Kriesel
John Kriesel was born in Hibbing, Minnesota and was raised in the Twin Cities. He enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard as an 11B Infantryman on his 17th birthday attending basic training during the summer between his junior and senior years in high school.
He served on a NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo in 2004 and less than two years later volunteered for deployment in Iraq. On December 2, 2006, he was on a combat patrol with his squad near the Euphrates River when his Humvee encountered a 200 pound Improvised Explosive Device. The blast killed two of his close friends: SGT Corey Rystad of Red Lake Falls, MN and SGT Bryan McDonough of Maplewood, MN. Kriesel suffered multiple internal injuries, two broken arms and amputation of both his legs.
He retired after 10 years of service, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. For his service, he has been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart Medal and Bronze Star Medal among others.
He was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2010 serving one term, representing the Cottage Grove area where he lives with his wife Kayla and daughter Chloe.
He currently serves as Director of Veteran Services for a County in Suburban Minneapolis, MN, a part-time personality on KFAN Radio, motivational speaker, and co-author of the book, "Still Standing: The Story of SSG John Kriesel," republished in 2018 and winner of 8 national book awards.
John Kriesel was born in Hibbing, Minnesota and was raised in the Twin Cities. He enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard as an 11B Infantryman on his 17th birthday attending basic training during the summer between his junior and senior years in high school.
He served on a NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo in 2004 and less than two years later volunteered for deployment in Iraq. On December 2, 2006, he was on a combat patrol with his squad near the Euphrates River when his Humvee encountered a 200 pound Improvised Explosive Device. The blast killed two of his close friends: SGT Corey Rystad of Red Lake Falls, MN and SGT Bryan McDonough of Maplewood, MN. Kriesel suffered multiple internal injuries, two broken arms and amputation of both his legs.
He retired after 10 years of service, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. For his service, he has been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart Medal and Bronze Star Medal among others.
He was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2010 serving one term, representing the Cottage Grove area where he lives with his wife Kayla and daughter Chloe.
He currently serves as Director of Veteran Services for a County in Suburban Minneapolis, MN, a part-time personality on KFAN Radio, motivational speaker, and co-author of the book, "Still Standing: The Story of SSG John Kriesel," republished in 2018 and winner of 8 national book awards.
Still Standing. Still Smiling.
John Kriesel travels throughout the country sharing his story, inspiring and motivating others. Kriesel's intensely positive attitude infects every person he shares his story with from students to senior corporate executives as he relays lessons learned to overcome extreme tragedy.
On December 2, 2006, the vehicle Kriesel and four of his comrades were riding in encountered a 200 lb. Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The blast killed two of Kriesel's best friends and he was...
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