Washington ( CNN ) An Army combat engineer from Ohio , Army Staff Sgt . Jason Gibson 's job was to clear the road of improvised explosive devices ( IEDs ) . `` One guy had the metal detector , and if anything got a hit we 'd check it out , '' Gibson said . `` We wanted to make sure the rest of the troops moving through were safe . We wanted to make sure it was us first . '' Gibson enlisted in 2005 hoping for a long career in the military following in the footsteps of his two grandfathers . But all that changed on a spring day in 2012 during his third tour . While on patrol in Panjwayi Province near Kandahar in Afghanistan , Gibson knelt down on top of on an IED , which detonated . `` All I saw was red , '' he said . `` I remember everything until they put me in the helicopter . '' Gibson 's injuries were so severe he was kept in a medically-induced coma for two weeks . The Army flew his wife and parents to Germany so they could say their goodbyes . Incredibly , Gibson survived . He lost both legs in the blast , and underwent 21 surgeries . While he was recovering at Walter Reed , the staff sergeant got a visit from Commander in Chief President Barack Obama . `` I was still loopy from the drugs . But I was just glaring at him , because he was hugging my wife , he was talking to my mom , '' said Gibson . `` But it did n't really register what was going on . '' This year Gibson wrote the President a letter thanking him for the visit , and to tell him how far he has come since that Walter Reed visit . `` That was my worst time , and I wanted ( him to know ) this is everything I 've done to , I guess , to better myself , '' said Gibson . His recovery has been astounding . Since his injury , he has surfed , skied , kayaked , fished , hunted , and raced in four marathons on the hand cycle . He has also gotten his private pilot 's license . And he and his wife recently welcomed their first baby . `` There is life after a traumatic event and good can come of all things , '' he wrote in the letter to President Obama . Obama wrote back , and the White House invited Gibson to come as a guest to Tuesday 's State of the Union . In December , Gibson , his wife , and their daughter moved into a custom built home for severely wounded veterans provided by the non-profit Homes for Our Troops . He 's even got a rig to shovel his own driveway with a wheel chair powered plow . `` It 's been great . I can finally do the laundry , help out , and do the work . I do n't know if that 's a good thing , '' he says with a laugh . Gibson 's spirit seems truly unbreakable . `` I just want to show people there is life after a traumatic event . There 's always a way to move on , '' he said .
Army Staff Sgt . Jason Gibson will be sitting in the box with first lady Michelle Obama for Tuesday 's State of the Union . Since losing both legs , Gibson has learned to surf , ski , and raced in four marathons . Gibson also got his pilot license , and he and his wife recently their first child , a daughter .