--- title: "This Marine Lost His Hand In Iraq. His Son Made Him A Prosthetic So They Could Play Catch" date: "2018-03-14" modified: "2018-03-14" authors: - name: "James Clark" job_title: "Editor-in-Chief" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/james-clark/" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics/marine-lost-hand-son-made-prosthetic-play-catch/" categories: - "Tech & Tactics" --- # This Marine Lost His Hand In Iraq. His Son Made Him A Prosthetic So They Could Play Catch ![]() Robbie Frei was 3 when his father, Jason Frei, was injured during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. A Marine artillery officer, Jason was riding in a [Humvee when the convoy was ambushed]() outside of Nasiriyah. He was struck with a rocket propelled grenade in the attack and lost his right hand. Fifteen years later, his son made him a new hand so the two can play catch, ABC News [reports](). A senior at Priory High School in Missouri and captain of the school’s robotics team, Robbie had already created a one-arm adapter for his father last fall, using a 3D printer through the school, so that the pair could play video games together, Fox News [reported]() in February. When it came time to pick his senior thesis project, Robbie, who’s been studying robotics since the seventh grade, set his sights on a new challenge: He wanted to give his dad a right hand that could throw a baseball. Related: This Marine Lost His Leg In Iraq. Here’s How He’s Still Serving His Country More Than A Decade Later » The new prosthetic is modeled after his father’s working hand. Using video of himself throwing a baseball, Robbie analyzed the motion through his computer to come up with the design and the required range of motion. Then he created a 3D printout with the help of the school’s engineering team. Before Robbie’s gift, his father could “throw a baseball with my left hand — I learned to do that — but I wasn't able to do it with my prosthetic,” Jason [told]() ABC news. "He did all of the math and all of the design to use it to play baseball... He really kind of crossed the bridge. It was a great project.” As for what’s next, Robbie — who’s wrapping up his sixth year on the robotics team and eyeing college prospects — will continue working with his father to improve the prosthetic hand, with plans to add a thumb joint, and a rotating wrist. **WATCH NEXT:** ## Author James Clark is the editor-in-chief of Task & Purpose. He is a former Marine and a veteran of the War in Afghanistan. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [LinkedIn]()