MAX CLELAND

They both carved out sterling reputations as military and political leaders over years of public service.

NPR's Scott Simon marks the passing of Max Cleland, who was a U.S. Army captain and senator from Georgia.

According to his personal assistant, Cleland died at his home in Atlanta, Georgia from congestive heart failure.

Former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland has died.

Max Cleland, who lost three limbs to a hand grenade in Vietnam and later became a groundbreaking Veterans Administration chief and U.S. senator from Georgia until an attack ad questioning his patriotism derailed his reelection, died on Tuesday. Cleland died at his home in Atlanta from congestive heart failure, his personal assistant Linda Dean told The Associated Press. Cleland was a U.S. Army captain in Vietnam when he lost his right arm and two legs while picking up a fallen grenade in 1968.