David Hong

Sgt. 1st Class David Hong has served nearly 17 years on active duty, with deployments to Afghanistan and multiple assignments in South Korea. In July 2022, he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, a diagnosis that significantly altered his personal and professional life. Following his diagnosis, Hong was assigned to the Soldier Recovery Unit at Fort Carson, where he began extensive treatment. As part of his rehabilitation, he was introduced to adaptive sports, which played an important role in his physical recovery and overall well-being. Through the support of the SRU, his medical providers, and rehabilitation specialists, Hong found renewed structure, purpose, and connection. He credits them, along with his family and personal faith, for providing the resources that enabled him to compete and recover.