Gary Sinise Foundation Builds Custom Home For Vet Who Lost Both Legs In Combat

Jun 26, 2021

Gary Sinise is a beloved and successful actor who is best known for his role as Lieutenant Dan in the film “Forrest Gump.” Starring alongside Tom Hanks, Sinise’s character leads a group of men through the trials of the Vietnam War. The experience of playing a soldier had a profound impact on Sinise, as he grew up in a military family. The actor decided to start his own charity called The Gary Sinise Foundation. 

Founded in 2011, The Gary Sinise Foundation is a veteran’s service organization and charity that has developed several programs, services and events to both help and honor wounded veterans of all branches of the military. The organization is a non-profit charity and they have raised 194 million dollars for wounded veterans, first responders, and their families throughout their history.

One of the programs offered by the foundation is called R.I.S.E. and it stands for “Restoring Independence and Supporting Empowerment.” This program offers fully customized and mortgage free homes to severely wounded veterans and their families. They also offer home modifications, adapted vehicles, and mobility devices to veterans in need. 

In June of  2021, The Gary Sinise Foundation and R.I.S.E. provided a customized home for Captain J.J. Guerrero, of San Antonio, Texas, who lost both of his legs in combat. He served his country for 23 years in both the Marine Corps and the Army. Guerrero is a patriotic man who said he is proud to raise the flag over his new home. Read on to learn more about this incredible story. 

In its ten years of serving the veteran community, the charity has raised millions to help wounded soldiers. “The Gary Sinise Foundation has now built 71 of these specially-adapted, mortgage-free homes for severely disabled service members, many of which are in the state of Texas,” shared Lieutenant Rick Lynch who is also an ambassador of The Gary Sinise Foundation. 

Guerrero spoke with News 4 San Antonio about the moment he was injured. “I was hit by an EFP which is an explosively formed penetrator,” Guerrero recalls. “It's like a mortar tube you would see with fireworks packed with explosives. One of them went through the bottom portion of the vehicle on the driver’s side. I remember every second of it. I never closed my eyes.”

Since that event, Guerrero lost one lower leg, and then due to complications, the other. “My train of thought was: if I can do without one, I'm pretty sure I can do without two,” he said in the same interview.

Since he lost his legs, there is one thing Guerrero has been looking forward to. “The first thing that I'm going to do is, I'm going to take a shower,” he says. “I have not taken a shower since 2010. I had to use a sprayer.” It is humbling to know that this man sacrificed so much and has such simple wants. The GSF made the right choice to provide a specially adapted house for this hero. 

Guerrero can finally appreciate and feel comfortable being at home. He says, “This is a gift from the American people for one of their own.” 

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