2025 Annual Conference: Opening Symposium

Thursday, October 16th, 8:45 - 11:00 am

Still Standing. Still Smiling.
John Kriesel

Session Description
A sought-after public speaker, John Kriesel travels throughout the country sharing his story, inspiring and motivating others. Kriesel’s intensely positive attitude infects every person he shares his story with, from students to senior corporate executives as he relays lessons learned overcoming extreme adversity.

On December 2, 2006, the vehicle Kriesel and four of his comrades were riding in encountered a 200-pound Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The blast killed two of Kriesel’s closest friends and he was severely injured, losing both legs, suffering numerous broken bones and internal injuries. He was transported to two field hospitals in Iraq where he died three times on the operating table before doctors saved his life. He woke up at Walter Reed Army Medical Center after an 8-day medically induced coma where he learned about the death of his two comrades and the severity of his injuries.

Nine months after his near-death experience in Iraq, John returned to Minnesota to begin his new life. His transition from military to civilian life offered many challenges, but his amazing support system, positive attitude and sense of humor allowed him to bounce back stronger than ever.

During John’s presentation he will describe his decision to join the military at 17 years of age, and his overseas deployments. He will discuss in detail the tragic events of December 2, 2006, and his thoughts and feelings as he laid on a dirt road in Iraq, nearly bleeding to death. He will describe what tools he used to overcome the extreme challenges he faced, John’s story, sense of humor, and positive outlook on life will leave you inspired.

John Kriesel

If Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was writing his incredibly popular book, “The Power of Positive Thinking,” today he would need to add a separate chapter on John Kriesel.

In 2006 Kriesel was nearly blown to shreds by a 200 pound roadside bomb in the parched sands of Iraq, but battle eld angels in army uniforms kept him breathing long enough to reach a  eld hospital. He died three times and was shocked back to life. Somehow he survived through four hospitals, 35 surgeries and months of recovery. He lost both legs and su ered numerous other major injuries, but it was the loss of two close friends that hurt the most.

The guy who wasn’t supposed to survive and was told he probably would be in a wheelchair the rest of his life walked out of Walter Reed Army Medical Center after nine months. Working with author Jim Kosmo, Kriesel reveals his motivational story in “STILL STANDING: The Story of SSG John Kriesel,” winner of eight national book awards.

Four years after his near-death experience in Iraq Kriesel became a civilian marketing employee with the Minnesota Army National Guard and in 2012 was named Director of Veterans Services for a county in Suburban Minneapolis, MN. He also is a part time host on KFAN Sports Radio and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He was elected to the House in 2010 after a vigorous campaign where he was told he could not win in his district. He personally visited several thousand homes in all weather conditions and literally wore out the socket in one of his prosthetic legs. He won. After tours of duty in Kosovo and Iraq and a lengthy medical recovery Kriesel’s family wanted to spend more time with him and he chose not to run for re-election.

As a legislator he was anything but a quiet freshman challenging even his own party and frequently speaking his mind. “Kriesel’s honesty is a breath of fresh air at the Capitol,” declared the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. In addition to serving veterans in the Twin Cities and being a frequent voice on KFAN’s Power Trip Morning Show, he continues to share his upbeat, motivational message with businesses and organizations throughout the United States.

“Still Standing: The Story of SSG John Kriesel” is available in print, eBook, and audio through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and through our publisher at www.ItascaBooks.com.