Franz Walkup makes the most of his life as a civilian working out, building and shooting rifles, and riding his side-by-side quad in the mountains, and cheering for the University of Tennessee’s football team. (Courtesy Photo.)
“When I was injured, they flew me to Forward Operating Base Shank, and then to Landstuhl [Regional Medical Center] in Germany,” explained Franz. “I was there for a long time and was projected not to make it, which is why they flew my then-wife and mother and father out to Germany to see me.”
After being medical evacuated from Afghanistan, Franz spent three long years recovering at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland
“WRNMMC was a great place to be treated,” Walkup elated. “I would not be where I am today without the amazing staff at Walter Reed. I owe my life to the amazing doctors, nurses and therapists that work there.”
Although Franz had planned to serve 20+ years and retire, he knew that he wasn’t going to be able to continue, and he medically retired in 2015 after six years of service.
“My recovery time at Walter Reed was from October 2012 to June of 2015, and from September 2017 to March of 2018 when I was recovering from my right leg amputation,” he added.
The siblings
Of his seven living siblings, two are active-duty Army captains and two more are in Army’s Reserve Officers’ Training Course (ROTC).
Franz’s next closest brother, Army Capt. Benford (aka Mitch) Walkup, who currently serves as a psychological operations officer with 8th Psychology Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Following Mitch in the family pecking order is Kevin, who serves as a logistician with 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) base at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Kevin joined the Army in part because it was ‘family driven,’ but also for the opportunities it offered including the travel. “I couldn’t even imagine a lifestyle without the Army,” stated Army Capt. Kevin Walkup, as he explained his desire to continue to serve a career in the Army.
While Frank, Mitch and Kevin graduated from the University of Tennessee, Franz’s youngest brothers, Jake and Josh (also known as “the twins”) both plan to enter the Army after graduating from Tennessee Tech University.
While not in the Army, one of his two sisters, Nina–is married to an Army logistics officer currently stationed at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.
“As a Wounded Warrior and veteran, I believe my responsibilities are to be able to inspire and show that people that just because you are injured and disabled you can still strive to be the best you can be,” stated Franz Walkup. “That and being able to still be able to work and provide for my family is a privilege.”