(U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Healy)
A native of Effingham will join more than 200 seriously wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans at the Warrior Games, June 13 – 20, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.
Retired Navy Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 1st Class James Shoemaker will be competing against athletes representing the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force and U.S. Special Operations Command. During the eight-day competition, Shoemaker will compete in archery, sitting volleyball, swimming and track.
Hosted by the U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command (T2COM), this annual premiere and elite adaptive-sports competition highlights the exceptional physical skills and mental toughness of seriously wounded, ill and injured active-duty and veteran service members.
Now in its 16th year, the Warrior Games celebrates the valor, recovery and resilience of wounded, ill and injured service members and qualifying veterans along with their families, using the power of the games to drive healing, empowerment and renewed purpose.
Shoemaker joined the Navy in 2005 because he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and stepfather. Naval service allowed him to see the world, build skills and create lifelong friendships.
Shoemaker was initially hesitant to participate in adaptive sports, but he wanted to set a healthy example for his children and teach them that hardships are not stops. He loves team sports and took to wheelchair basketball as a way to reclaim part of his life from before his injury. He also found an empathetic circle of peers who listen and understand his condition, driving him to continue to progress in his recovery.
Shoemaker qualified for the Warriors Games at the 2026 Navy Adaptive Sports Team Trials at Naval Base in San Diego, California, on March 3, 2026.
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence.
For more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.
More information is available here https://www.navy.mil/navy-250/
For more information about the 2026 Warrior Games, including information on finding the livestream, visit https://dodwarriorgames.com
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