Max Rohn
Max Rohn always knew he wanted to join the military. He saw it as an opportunity to travel and wanted to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, who served in World War II. While working as a lifeguard in high school, Max excelled at first aid and decided to enlist as a corpsman in the United States Navy.
On May 2, 2009, during his first combat deployment, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Rohn was serving with the 2nd Marine Headquarters Group in Fallujah, Iraq, when his vehicle was struck by an RKG-3 grenade. HM3 Rohn suffered severe damage to both legs and his right arm, and lost consciousness due to a traumatic brain injury caused by the blast. Max was transported to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he underwent 10 surgeries in an attempt to save his right leg. After two and a half years of limb-saving attempts, he made the difficult decision to amputate his right leg in August 2011 and retired from the U.S. Navy in March 2013. Max is also a recipient of the Purple Heart.
In the years since his injury, Max has accomplished many amazing things. He earned his bachelor’s degree in international politics from Pennsylvania State University and spent time in California training for track and field at the Olympic Training Center. There he also met his incredible wife, Tori, and they moved to California in 2023.
Since then, Max has participated in the Invictus Games, the Warrior Games, and the Parapan American Games, and is currently training to make the U.S. track and field team for the 2028 Los Angeles Games in the discus throw.
Most of Max’s hobbies and activities revolve around his love of adaptive sports, and through a friend, Paralympian Justin Phongsavanh, he discovered Angel City Sports. He has attended the Angel City Games since 2019 as an athlete, but he has also distinguished himself as a leader and coach for the next generation of adaptive and Paralympic athletes, volunteering at major Angel City events such as Youth Weekend, the Angel City Games, and Courage Weekend.
“Angel City Sports is the nation’s leading organization for adaptive sports. Their efforts to integrate the civilian, military, and first responder communities with disabilities into sports are among the best I have ever been involved in. There are many wounded warriors and injured first responders seeking a new purpose in life. ACS provides us with a path forward in our recovery process. Our shared experience as patients unites us on this journey, through participation in sports.”
Max’s story is one of courage and perseverance. He embodies the unwavering spirit of a warrior who continues to lead by example and serve others, both in the above and in his work as a member of the board of directors of America’s VetDogs, Warfighter Sports ambassador with Move United, and member of Team Semper Fi.
