MARIETTA, Ga. — Mike McNaughton, a soldier who lost his right leg in a mine explosion in Afghanistan, was still in the early stages of recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center when he received a visit from President Bush.

"I told him one day I'll outrun him," McNaughton said. "He said, 'When you feel better, let me know.' "

McNaughton took the president at his word, and 14 months later the two ran a mile together on property surrounding the White House, even though McNaughton was still adjusting to running with his new prosthesis.

He recalled that run Friday, noting his well-timed hospital visit, as he participated in the Amputee Coalition of America's annual conference, which highlighted the Military Amputee Peer Visitation program. McNaughton is among more than 100 veterans who participate in the program at the Walter Reed facility in Washington, the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and the Naval Medical Center San Diego.

"I saw the president and 14 months later I ran with him, so I had a little more motivation," McNaughton said of his recovery. "After that I found, I guess, my true calling. That's when I started talking to more soldiers and amputees in general."

A photo of McNaughton running with Bush became instant motivation for other amputees.

"From that photo, a lot of people took that and used it for their benefit," McNaughton said. "I decided I'll use it to my advantage to help people like myself."

McNaughton, 35, retired from the Army and works as a resource specialist for the Department of Homeland Security in Baton Rouge, La., where he assisted recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina. He also founded a support group for amputees.

Paddy Rossbach, president of the amputee coalition, says the military peer visitation program was modeled after a similar program for civilians, including those who have lost limbs because of diabetes. But Rossbach says it is crucial to have a program specifically for military amputees.

"Trauma is trauma, but when these guys come back, they're different," Rossbach said. "They don't think about themselves. They are much more concerned about who they've left behind or their family.

"That's why we decided military peer visitors had to be military. Sending in civilians wasn't going to be any good. There is the connection between people that doesn't happen in civilian life."

McNaughton, who lost his leg above the knee as well as two fingers in the explosion, says he leans on his experience when visiting others who have lost limbs.

"As a soldier you don't really know anything about prosthetics," he said. "I really didn't know what technology was there to offer. I just thought they were going to put a wooden leg on me and say 'go.' "

Of more than 25,000 U.S. service members wounded in hostile action since military operations began in Iraq and Afghanistan, fewer than 600 needed prosthetics, Rossbach said.

"The question they ask is 'What's my future?' " McNaughton said. "You encourage them and you tell them a little about yourself but it's more about them. You are there more to listen than telling your story."

McNaughton, a New York native, originally enlisted in the Army when he was 18 and served for 10 years. He re-enlisted after Sept. 11, 2001.

"My wife was in the military; we were there together," he said. "She knew it wasn't easy for me to get out the first time. Being from New York, seeing my family was right in Manhattan, next to the towers, she knew it was coming up. She knew I was going to ask to go back in."

McNaughton was injured on Jan. 9, 2003. He spent about five months at Walter Reed.