U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw has become one of the most recognized figures in American politics, known not only for his sharp conservative stance but also for the distinctive eye patch he wears — a symbol of his service and sacrifice.
Before his political career, Crenshaw served as a Navy SEAL, where his life was forever changed during a mission in Afghanistan in 2012.
Commissioned as a Navy officer in 2006, Crenshaw completed two deployments to Iraq before being sent to Helmand Province, Afghanistan for his third mission.
Six months into the deployment, tragedy struck during a last-minute operation. As his platoon secured a compound, an interpreter named Raqman accidentally triggered an explosive device by stepping on a pressure plate.
The blast was devastating — Raqman lost his life, and Crenshaw was severely injured, losing his right eye.
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The Congressman later described the experience as feeling like he’d been “hit by a truck” and “doused in Tabasco” — a vivid portrayal of the pain and shock.
Following the explosion, Crenshaw was placed in a medically-induced coma and evacuated to Germany, where surgeons removed the remnants of his eye and extracted shrapnel, including a copper wire lodged in his eye socket.
Recovery was long and grueling, taking nearly two years. Remarkably, after recovering, Crenshaw continued his military service, deploying to Bahrain and South Korea before eventually retiring and entering politics.
Crenshaw has since been candid about how self-conscious he feels when wearing his glass eye, admitting it often draws attention during public appearances.
As a result, he frequently opts for custom eye patches, many of which feature symbols honoring his Navy SEAL roots, such as the SEAL trident and the bonefrog emblem.
One of his most worn prosthetic eyes even incorporates a gold SEAL trident earring from Coronado, California, embedded into the glass.
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For Crenshaw, the eye patch is more than just a necessity — it’s a personal and symbolic piece of his identity, representing the sacrifices made in service to his country.
Today, as a U.S. Congressman for Texas’ 2nd district, Crenshaw balances his public service with a deep personal connection to his military past, carrying both his scars and his pride into every room he enters.
