INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis-born army veteran Jeffrey Mittman sits with his hands intertwined. A scar can be seen in place of his right index finger. These are the hands of a hero.

”I went off and spent 22 years in the army,” Master Sergeant Mittman said. “I did four combat tours, but on my last combat tour I was ambushed.”

An explosive device robbed Mittman of his sight. He woke up in a hospital bed a month later.

“[I] couldn't see, I couldn't speak,” Mittman said. “I had a trachea on me and I was tied to the bed.”

More than 40 surgeries were performed to mend his injuries, but his vision was gone forever.

“I never thought [that] the first blind person I ever met was myself,” Mittman said.

Surgeons rebuilt his face as he worked to rebuild his life.

”I think the military in me, the

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