'I focus on what I have left, not what I lost.' The true face of courage even after he lost his leg and hand in an Afghan IED blast

US Marine Gunnery Sergeant Brian Meyer was deployed as a bomb technician in Afghanistan in 2011 when the device he was defusing exploded prematurely.

The then 29-year-old Marine was ripped apart by the blast. He lost his right leg above the knee, his right hand above the wrist and three fingers of his left hand.

While still receiving treatment on the battlefield, Sgt Meyer, fearful of the impact his injuries would have on his squad, ordered Eric Lunson to take his photograph. Forcing a smile through the pain, Sgt Meyer, raised what would have earlier been a thumbs' up as the shutter clicked. The photograph, Sgt Meyer hoped, would provide inspiration for his men as he began his own battle with recovery.

Marine Gunnery Sergeant Brian Meyer bravely smiled for the camera after he lost his right leg above the knee, his right hand above the wrist and three fingers on his left hand after a bomb he was defusing in 2011 exploded

Sgt Meyer, has retired from the Marines however, he continues to undergo pioneering medical treatment from Navy Commander Peter Shumaker, right at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California. The special laser, pictured, softens scar tissue on Sgt Meyer's arm allowing him greater movement and less pain

Since the War on Terror and the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, almost 2,000 US troops have lost one or more limbs as a result of combat injuries. Now, the Naval Health Research Center has embarked on a six-year study, to help wounded warriors rebuild their lives.

So far, 1,500 personnel have signed up to the Wounded Warrior Recovery Project, however, the Navy wants to increase that figure to 10,000. In addition to the amputees, a further 50,000 people have suffered serious combat injuries while deployed in either Iraq or Afghanistan. A staggering 16,000 of them would not have survived in an earlier conflict.

Doctors say a positive attitude is key to recovery, so the study will also examine mental resilience and why some troops have it and others don't. It will rely on Web-based, telephone and mailed surveys conducted every six months about mobility, ability to function and social activity.

The aim of the study is to review how veterans cope and enjoy life after suffering debilitating injuries such as Sgt Meyer. It is expected to last six years and will help understand how the injured personnel's quality of life impacts their long-term care. 

Troops such as Sgt Meyer are  pushing military medicine to find better ways to accommodate such a large population of young, severely disabled combat veterans who want to maintain an active lifestyle. Many wear out their prosthetic limbs in a matter of months doing everything from mountain climbing to running marathons.