Wounded U.S. veterans receive dozens of Segway mobility machines

ARLINGTON, Virginia (CNN) - A U.S. veteran who lost both legs in Iraq nearly two years ago says his new mobility machine means not having everyone look down on him in his wheelchair anymore.

A non-profit group this week has been training a group of about 30 wounded veterans to use their balance and dexterity to pilot a special model of the upright, battery-powered transporter called the Segway.

U.S. Army Sgt. Jacque Keeslar gets around with artificial legs and says he "can walk in short bursts really well." But for longer trips, Keeslar told CNN, "if I have to do a half mile or mile of walking, it just exhausts me."

So as an alternative to a wheelchair, Keeslar and his comrades now are riding around on the Segways, single-axle, two-wheeled machines with a platform and handlebars.

–From CNN's Paul Courson