SSG Shilo A. Harris, U.S. Army (Ret.) is a nationally respected motivational speaker, combat-injured veteran, and author of the acclaimed memoir Steel Will: My Journey Through Hell to Become the Man I Was Meant to Be. Known for his unshakeable faith, resilience, and raw honesty, Shilo has spent nearly two decades inspiring audiences across the country with his message that “the scars don’t make the man—they make him stronger.”
Shilo Harris comes from a family deeply rooted in military service. As the son of a Vietnam veteran, he was raised with a strong sense of duty and always knew he wanted to serve. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, that desire became a conviction. He enlisted shortly afterward as a Cavalry Scout in the United States Army.
His first deployment took him to Schweinfurt, Germany with the 1st Infantry Division, and from there to the battlefields of Iraq. His second deployment, with the 10th Mountain Division near southern Baghdad, would change his life forever. On February 19, 2007, Shilo’s armored vehicle was struck by a massive improvised explosive device (IED). The blast killed three of his fellow soldiers and injured the driver. Shilo survived, but with devastating injuries—severe third-degree burns on 35% of his body, the loss of his ears, the tip of his nose, and three fingers, as well as a fractured collarbone, damage to his C-7 vertebra, lung trauma, traumatic brain injury, and the invisible wounds of PTS, survivor guilt, and near-death experience trauma. He was placed in a medically induced coma for 48 days and spent nearly three years undergoing intensive surgeries and rehabilitation at Brook Army Medical Center (now SAMMC) in San Antonio, Texas.
During his recovery, Shilo became the first soldier to participate in pioneering regenerative stem-cell research for finger regrowth and later received state-of-the-art prosthetic ears. To date, he has undergone more than 80 surgeries, with additional procedures expected throughout his life. Supported by his devoted family, Shilo rebuilt his life through faith, perseverance, and a refusal to let his injuries define him. In 2010, he medically retired from the Army but not from his mission.
Since 2007, Shilo has delivered inspirational keynote addresses across the country to corporations, churches, military organizations, first responders, universities, and medical teams. His talks focus on overcoming adversity, building mental resilience, balancing personal and professional life, leadership grounded in integrity, customer-service excellence, and raising awareness of the visible and invisible scars of war. He also mentors veterans, military families, and individuals facing trauma, reminding them through his own life that they are not just survivors—they can thrive.
Shilo’s mission is simple and powerful: to support others who have experienced trauma and to empower them toward physical healing, mental wellness, personal growth, and renewed purpose. His message of “Steel Will” resonates with anyone facing a battle of their own, reminding them that life is worth living and every challenge can become a new beginning.
His short film Shilo, released in 2018, is currently being developed into a feature film, continuing his mission of hope and resilience on an even larger stage.
