A Boise veteran has become the first combat-wounded veteran to summit Mount Everest.
30-year-old Boise native USMC Staff Sgt. Charlie Linville reached the 29,029-foot summit at 10:22 a.m. Mountain Time Thursday, according to The Heroes Project.
Linville was serving in Afghanistan in 2011 defusing bombs when he sustained injuries following the detonation of an explosive device, ultimately leading to the amputation of his right foot.
"You know, it's hard enough for able-bodied climbers, and then you add in a spinal cord injury, a brain injury and an amputation and it's not making it any easier!" Charlie's wife Mandi said. "So there's a lot that went into it."
Linville trained intensively for the climb, spending months at a time away from his family.
"He promised me this is it! He's not going back," Mandi said laughing. "But now he's talking about wanting to go to space!"
Mandi says she feared the worst, every moment since the group began their climb, but not once did she lose faith in her husband's drive or ability to climb.
"Mother nature has her rules and she's showed us that the last two years," Mandi said. "You've really got to respect the mountain and the spirit of the mountain that the Nepalese people believe, and, you know, it's just really hard when you don't have control over it."
The Heroes Project confirmed Thursday Linville and the rest of the team are now descending the mountain.
Mandi plans to hold a huge welcome home party for Charlie after he returns home to Boise some time in late May.
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