Wounded GI Helped By Volunteers
by admin on Aug.06, 2009, under Support Our Soldiers
WEATHERFORD — First, Army Spc. Brett Wolf was treated to the ride of his life.
Driver Tony Stewart took the avid NASCAR fan for a spin around the track Tuesday during Stewart’s “Smoke Show” at Texas Motor Speedway. For Wolf, who was severely wounded when his minesweeper struck a bomb in Iraq, it was a chance to meet a hero of his. For Stewart, it was a similar feeling.
“[Stewart] said, ‘I don’t understand why people think I’m a hero,’ ” TMS spokesman Mike Rizzo said. “He goes, ‘Brett’s the hero.’ ”
But Wednesday topped even that experience. More than 100 volunteers and workers began construction on a home for Wolf, 25, and his wife, Kelly, about 13 miles northwest of Weatherford as a part of the Homes for Our Troops program. Wolf suffered severe arm and face injuries and his legs were amputated above the knee after the Sept. 11, 2007, blast.
The Wolfs arrived at the site in a TMS pace car escorted by motorcyclists from the Patriot Guard Riders. After an hour and a half, wall frames were already up.
Wolf found it hard to put his feelings into words.
“It’s a dream come true,” Wolf said. “It’s overwhelming, all these people helping, and they already had the walls up. It’s crazy.”
Since suffering his injuries, Wolf has been in military hospitals and rehabilitation centers from Washington, D.C., to San Antonio for almost two years.
“We didn’t know what we were going to do. We didn’t have the money to buy an accessible house,” said Kelly Wolf, who put school on hold to take care of her husband. “It’s amazing now, knowing that we have this.”
By the time he is released from physical therapy in about six months, his new home will be ready. Sandlin Custom Homes is building the house using largely donated materials — everything from the lumber to the lighting.
“We’ve been scrambling, trying to get everyone together, but it just seems like the whole community, from our suppliers to our employees, have come out in full force,” Scott Sandlin of Sandlin Homes said. “It’s wonderful to give something to someone who has given so much for our country.” Read on…
This is really wonderful that this brave veteran could have his community reach out to him like this. We all really should find ways to show our appreciation to our men and women in uniform. I know it means a lot to them.
