Major college basketball player, teacher, and Purple Heart recipient.
Danielle Green grew up on Chicago’s South Side. She was great at basketball—so good that she earned a scholarship to play at the University of Notre Dame.
Green graduated in 1999 and then taught at a Chicago-based charter school. Always dedicated to serving her country, Green left her teaching job for the U.S. Army, where she was a military police officer.
On May 25th, 2004, Danielle was pulling security duty on a rooftop in Iraq. Rockets whizzed by her. She reached for her weapon and returned fire, and that’s when a rocket-propelled grenade hit her. When Green woke up at the hospital, her brigade was beside her. Her left arm was gone. The brigade commander pinned on the Purple Heart.
Danielle was sent back to the States and went through the recovery process, which was as much mental as physical. She was assisted along the way by support organizations, including Disabled Sports, Salute American Heroes, and the Achilles Track Club. Running became her new passion, and four months after her injury, she ran a competitive race in New York City. Ever the athlete, Green also plays racquetball and golf and enjoys outdoor sports, including fishing and skiing.
Danielle Green was honored with the Pat Tillman Award at the prestigious ESPY Awards. Today, Green is a counselor for veterans in South Bend.
Danielle Green’s words, spoken at the ESPYs, are for us all….
“What’s my purpose? What’s my passion? What do I want my legacy to be?”
