Marine Cpl. Carlos Torres knows about service and he knows about sacrifice.
He was on his first deployment to Afghanistan in 2011 when he lost both of his legs after stepping on an improvised explosive device.
He had spoken to his mother only the night before telling her he was fine and would be home in a few weeks.
Saturday morning Homes for Our Troops presented Torres with the keys to his new specially adapted home in El Cajon. The nonprofit held a military ceremony that ended in the ribbon cutting of Torres’ house.
“I was not expecting anything so big,” he said after surveying his new place. At four bedrooms, two baths and nearly 3000 square feet he’ll have a lot of room to move around. The home features more than 40 major special adaptations such as widened doorways for wheelchair access, a roll-in shower, and kitchen amenities that include pull-down shelving and lowered countertops.
“It’s very humbling to be here and see this great home that Home for Our Troops has built for me and can’t wait to move in and make it my own,” Torres said. “It’s a dream basically. I’m waiting to wake up.”
Torres, now an avid surfer, SCUBA diver and runner, plans to live in the home with his mother, brother and sister.
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"We at Homes for Our Troops do not believe giving a home to a severely injured Veteran is charity,” said Tim McHale, President and CEO of Homes for Our Troops. “We believe it is a moral obligation of our society. They fought to protect our freedom and independence, and we are now giving them back some freedom and independence by building them a specially adapted home."
All costs for the home will be covered by Homes for Our Troops and its supporters. The nonprofit builds adapted, mortgage-free homes for severely injured veterans across the country.
