Marine injured in Iraq getting donated new home in Attica

Margaret Christopherson, Lafayette Journal & Courier
·2 min read

ATTICA, Ind. — Homes For Our Troops will kick off the building of a specially-adapted custom home for Marine LCpl. Bryan Chambers, a veteran who was injured while serving in Iraq.

According to Chambers' page on HFOT's website, on Feb. 28, 2007, Chambers was driving the lead vehicle in his platoon when he rolled over an improvised explosive device, causing the vehicle to flip over. Chambers lost his right leg, sustained shrapnel injuries throughout his body and experienced traumatic brain injury, according to the website.

The nonprofit's mission, according to their website, is "to build and donate specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives."

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HFOT has built 324 homes for veterans since the nonprofit organization's inception in 2004.

"Our goal is to build a home for every Veteran who qualifies for one of our specially adapted homes," HFOT's website states. "Empowered by the freedom a donated specially adapted custom home brings, these Veterans can now focus on their recovery and returning to their life’s work of serving others.

Bryan Chambers, a Marine Veteran who was injured in Iraq in 2007, will be receiving a new, specially adapted house from Homes For Our Troops.
Bryan Chambers, a Marine Veteran who was injured in Iraq in 2007, will be receiving a new, specially adapted house from Homes For Our Troops.

"Their incredible stories – far too numerous to include on one page – are the driving force for the work we do here at HFOT."

The public is welcome to attend the 10 a.m. - with a 9:30 a.m. check-in time - kickoff event for Chambers' new home at the West Mill Social Hall, 115 W Mill Street Attica, IN 47918.

Chambers' home will be equipped with over 40 adaptations, such as widened doorways for wheelchair access; lowered countertops; a roll-in shower; pull-down shelving units and overall widened hallways.

In addition to delivering on Chambers' new accessible home, HFOT will stay by his, and all the veterans they assist, side after the new home is built. HFOT provides a free financial planner for three years after the home is built to help with household and financial budgeting, according to their website.

"HFOT has more than 100 Veterans in the application process for our program for severely injured Veterans," HFOT's website states. "Homes For Our Troops is a publicly funded nonprofit, with approximately 65 percent of our operational budget generated by individual donors, private and family foundations, and community fundraisers nationwide who step up to help our American Veterans...

"The remaining 35 percent comes from corporate supporters in the form of cash and donated materials. Please donate today or see how you can help us by calling (866) 787-6677."

Margaret Christopherson is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email her at mtroup@jconline.com and follow her on Twitter @MargaretJC2

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Attica veteran: US Marine wounded in Iraq gets new home in donation