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Work Begins On House For Vet Injured In Afghanistan
Group Builds House At No Cost To Veteran
POSTED: 1:23 pm CDT August 20,
2008
UPDATED: 8:12 pm CDT August 20,
2008
SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. -- Work started Wednesday on a new home in Sun Prairie for a veteran who was severely injured in Afghanistan.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportStaff Sgt. Charles Isaacson was severely injured when his helicopter crashed in Afghanistan on Feb. 18, 2007, leaving him a paraplegic from the chest down.Isaacson is the beneficiary of a new home thanks to an organization called "Homes for Our Troops."Wednesday morning, the project officially broke ground in the Town of Burke."We hit some pretty nasty weather, one of our engines went out, and we crashed," said Isaacson as he recalled the crash that put him in a wheelchair, and killed eight other soldiers.Wednesday, Sun Prairie celebrated Isaacson's courage, by breaking ground on his new home.The group Homes for Our Troops will give Isaacson and his wife the house at no cost, WISC-TV reported."We just gave them a call to see what was going on, and they said 'hey, you've made our list, we want to build you an adaptive home,' and we were astounded," said Isaacson.Nationwide, Homes for Our Troops has completed 28 homes for wounded veterans, all with the support of local volunteers."People all across America really do want to give back, they just need a way to do it and that's what we provide. When they hear about what we do, they get excited. Its fun, it's not work at all," said Tom Benoit, vice president and CFO of the organization.The Isaacson's new home will be built to help him regain much of his independence.It will also help start a new life."He's not moving into a house, he's moving into a community, a very supportive group. We help each other. We look after for each other. We're actually excited to have him part of our group. He'll add to it," said future neighbor Boyd Garey.The home also has a big back yard, and while Isaacson is still a few months from moving in, he's already planning for the future."Believe it or not, I'm actually looking forward to mowing my lawn," said Isaacson.Work on the home's foundation began as soon as the crowd cleared out, and the home should be complete within a few months.Homes for Our Troops has already completed 28 homes throughout the U.S. and has 26 additional homes in various stages of construction. The group said it is seeking financial donations in addition to donations of labor and building materials and volunteer services for the Sun Prairie project. For more information, visit HomesForOurTroops.org.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportStaff Sgt. Charles Isaacson was severely injured when his helicopter crashed in Afghanistan on Feb. 18, 2007, leaving him a paraplegic from the chest down.Isaacson is the beneficiary of a new home thanks to an organization called "Homes for Our Troops."Wednesday morning, the project officially broke ground in the Town of Burke."We hit some pretty nasty weather, one of our engines went out, and we crashed," said Isaacson as he recalled the crash that put him in a wheelchair, and killed eight other soldiers.Wednesday, Sun Prairie celebrated Isaacson's courage, by breaking ground on his new home.The group Homes for Our Troops will give Isaacson and his wife the house at no cost, WISC-TV reported."We just gave them a call to see what was going on, and they said 'hey, you've made our list, we want to build you an adaptive home,' and we were astounded," said Isaacson.Nationwide, Homes for Our Troops has completed 28 homes for wounded veterans, all with the support of local volunteers."People all across America really do want to give back, they just need a way to do it and that's what we provide. When they hear about what we do, they get excited. Its fun, it's not work at all," said Tom Benoit, vice president and CFO of the organization.The Isaacson's new home will be built to help him regain much of his independence.It will also help start a new life."He's not moving into a house, he's moving into a community, a very supportive group. We help each other. We look after for each other. We're actually excited to have him part of our group. He'll add to it," said future neighbor Boyd Garey.The home also has a big back yard, and while Isaacson is still a few months from moving in, he's already planning for the future."Believe it or not, I'm actually looking forward to mowing my lawn," said Isaacson.Work on the home's foundation began as soon as the crowd cleared out, and the home should be complete within a few months.Homes for Our Troops has already completed 28 homes throughout the U.S. and has 26 additional homes in various stages of construction. The group said it is seeking financial donations in addition to donations of labor and building materials and volunteer services for the Sun Prairie project. For more information, visit HomesForOurTroops.org.Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
