Eddie Wright
Inspired by the military service of his father and grandfather, Eddie joined the Marine Corps. While deployed to Fallujah, he was in the lead vehicle of his convoy when they were ambushed by insurgents.
Eddie Wright
"I Would Join Again in A Heartbeat."
Military service spanned generations in Eddie's family, with his father serving in the Air Force and his grandfather serving in the Army during WWII. It was no surprise that Eddie would follow in their footsteps. He called joining the Marine Corps, "the most momentous experience of his life."
He served two deployments, one to Okinawa in 2001 and one in the Middle East, before joining the elite 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. He was then deployed to Fallujah, one of the most dangerous combat zones in Iraq at the height of the war in 2004.
They Were Ambushed
On April 7, 2004, Eddie was riding in the lead vehicle of his convoy on patrol through South Fallujah.
Suddenly, insurgents ambushed his unit.
During the ensuing firefight, a rocket propelled grenade struck Eddie's rifle. It exploded on impact, instantly severing his right arm below the wrist and his left arm below the elbow. The blast shattered his femur with the bone protruding from his thigh.
Seven of his fellow Marines were injured and his platoon commander was killed.
40 Pints of Blood
He received over 40 units of blood over the course of his medical evacuation to the U.S.
Eddie remained alert despite his injuries. Even as tourniquets were being cinched around his amputated limbs to slow the bleeding, he was calmly directing other Marines to safety.
"Even for My Hands Back"
After being medevac'd to the hospital, Eddie required 40 pints of blood to save his life.
Even while facing a long and grueling rehabilitation process, Eddie became known for his positive attitude.
Reflecting on his service, his injuries, and a reality he never imagined, Eddie told us without hesitation, "I would join again in a heartbeat. I wouldn’t trade it, even for my hands back.”
We Proudly Built A Custom Home For Eddie
Thanks to the incredible generosity of Grateful Americans across the country, Eddie and his daughter now have a forever home where they can thrive.
This life-changing home includes countless customizations in every room to ease Eddie's individual challenges, including accessible cabinetry and counters in the kitchen, door handles raised to shoulder-height, and smart technology automations activated through voice commands or with his iPad.
Of all the difficulties Eddie faced in his old home, the kitchen was the most frustrating. “I haven’t been cooking much in my kitchen because it’s too small." After seeing his brand new kitchen customized entirely to his needs, Eddie could barely contain his excitement. "This is one of the things I’ve been looking forward to the most...getting crazy in the kitchen!”
Eddie shared this message of gratitude not just for this home, but for this incredible new chapter in his life.
“The impact of this foundation, it's life-changing. It's something to be grateful for the rest of my life.”
