| William McLeroy | |
| Nickname: | Bud |
| Birth Date: | [1] |
| Allegiance: |  United States |
| Branch: | (1980–86) United States Army Reserve (1987–14) |
| Serviceyears: | 1980–2014 |
| Rank: | Command Sergeant Major |
| Unit: | 315th Psychological Operations Company |
| Battles: | Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Awards: | Purple Heart[2] |
| Spouse: | Tina |
| Religion: | Mormon |
| Party: | Republican |
| Laterwork: | Firefighter, politician |
William "Bud" McLeroy (born 1960) was the first amputee to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom.[3] He is also the first service member, and firefighter, to serve while only having one leg.[4]
Growing up in south San Diego, McLeroy attended Montgomery High School; in his senior year he changed to night classes, in order to save up money to fund his upcoming mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[1] After high school, McLeroy became a missionary for two years, then enlisted in the Marine Corps.[1]
After six years in the Marine Corps, McLeroy joined the Army Reserves, before joining active duty.[1] While on active duty, McLeroy was stationed in West Berlin, and witnessed the Berlin Wall coming down.[1] In 1990, McLeroy returned to the Army Reserves. After losing his leg in 1993, McLeroy became the first one legged service member. In 2012, McLeroy served as a commandant of the 80th Training Command. In 2014, McLeroy was medically retired after nearly 33 years of service.[2]
McLeroy began working as a firefighter in San Diego in 1990; joining the Federal Fire Department of San Diego.[1] In 1993, while in a preliminary race in Plaster City for Baja 1000, McLeroy was hit by a passing race car, severing his leg below the knee.[1] [5] McLeroy received his first prosthetic limb in January 1994.[1] After losing his leg McLeroy became the nation's first professional one-legged firefighter.[1] [6]
In 2009, McLeroy announced that he would run as a candidate for the 51st Congressional district, against incumbent Bob Filner;[7] he did not appear on the primary ballot for the seat in June 2010, instead winning a seat on the San Diego County Republican Party Central Committee.[8] In 2010, McLeroy ran for board member of Southwestern Community College District, ranking third out of four candidates for the fifth board member seat.[9] In 2012, McLeroy ran again for the third board member seat of Southwestern Community College District and lost, receiving 41.82% of the vote.[10] In 2014, McLeroy ran for a seat on the Sweetwater Union High School District school board,[11] placing second out of four candidates.[12] In 2016, he ran for a seat on the board of the Southwestern Community College District, and came in second in a field of five candidates.[13]