Page 3 - Explosion Ken News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Mr. steinbrenner got wind of the story and want sent a letter with a signed bat inviting him back to camp for free, whenókm he felt ready. >> reporter: after years of recovery ken was ready. with george steinbrenner's invitation in hand he packed up his cleats and headed to tampa. wearing pinstripes. >> i can't describe what it feels like, fantastic, like a dream. standing home plate looking at mickey rivers, bucky dent, david wells. mike torres, all these guys, i can believe it. >> reporter: ken fulfilled his childhood wish. for one incredible week he was playing baseball as a new york yank...

It. >> reporter: with one childhood dreamed realized for a second time ken was determined to not let that accident get if the waive his other dream. wear the of the new york yankees just like his dad. this is the yankees' fantasy camp in tampa, florida where green men live out their childhood fantasy and wear pinstripes and play with some of the greats. >> the biggest yankee fans in the world come to tampa, florida and live their dream of being a new york yankee. they dress in pinstripes they have their own clubhouse locker and come to the field. >> reporter: ken's dream to walk in his father'...

Being -- ♪ ♪ rosh when >> reporter: when he was a young boy he deemed of following in his father's footsteps. >> my father played in 60, 61. i wanted to be a yankee player. >> reporter: when reality set in he dreamed of becoming a police officer like his grandfather. >> my grandfather was in the nypd. 1992 i on the police department. i been with them ever since. >> reporter: he began in north carolina has a patrol officer. after serving the small carolina community for 12 years an opportunity to serve his country came knocking. in 2004, ken answered the call. left the police department and...

Course must be completed in 7:30. >> somebody told me what you lost is bone and muscle you still got heart and what is up here. >> reporter: he trained more than a year learning to run again and gained enough strength to take the test. >> come on! >> reporter: with his community, friends and family behind himç=ñ, ken passed the test with only seconds to spare. his journey back to wearing the badge was complete. >> i can't believe it. it is believable. >> reporter: in december of 2007 two years after the accident detective ken leonard returned to the high point police department. >> everybody...

On december 30th, 2005, a year after he arrived in baghdad a roadside bomb[du exploded, blasting through the armored vehicle ken was traveling in. two months after the accident, ken spoke of that horrible day. >> i'm lucky to be alive. fallen into the pavement and looked at my feet and realized how bad it was. once i looked at 'em i knew they were gone. legs below the knee. after the explosion ken was determined to prove the roadside bomb wouldn't steal his love of law enforcement. >> while in the hospital in greensboro the chief told me if i wanted to come back they would do whatever they cou...