We will be always thankful for what our veterans had done and sacrificed for the country.

Retired Army Sgt. Christopher Kurtz of Adams, Tennessee served his country for four years and he lost almost everything in fulfilling his duty. But just a couple of months back, all his sacrifices were paid off when he finally received his mortgage-free smart home courtesy of the Gary Sinise Foundation.

Beginnings and ends.

Kurtz first joined the U.S. Army in February 2009. It’s his first step in attaining higher education, serving the country would also honor the legacy of his relatives who were members of the armed forces before.

On June 13, 21010, he was deployed with the 101st Airborne Division to the Arghandab River Valley region of Afghanistan. Not long enough after their deployment, they immediately stumbled upon dangerous encounters and combat situations every day.

On one unfortunate day in December of the same year, a remote improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near Kurtz while he was on foot patrol.

Because of the explosion, he suffered serious injuries; it tore through his legs, he lost two fingers on his left hand and broke his pelvis in three different places.

After stabilizing his condition, Kurtz was later on evacuated to Kandahar Air Field and then to Landstuhl, Germany before being brought to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he underwent other needed surgeries.

Unfortunately, both his legs needed to be amputated.

After four long years of service, Kurtz medically retired from the Army as Sergeant in 2013 because of medical reasons. Throughout the years that passed, he thought his life wasn’t going any further, until one day.

Just a few months ago, Kurtz finally received the keys to his four-bedroom, three-bath mortgage-free home after being approved for one two years ago. It’s all thanks to the Gary Sinise Foundation, founded by the actor Gary Sinise himself.

For those who do not know or perhaps, were not born yet when the 1994 film “Forrest Gump” was seen in cinemas, Gary Sinise played the role of a disabled veteran who served as Gump’s (Tom Hanks) platoon leader during the Vietnam War.

“Shortly after the movie opened, I was contacted by the Disabled American Veterans Organization inviting me to their national convention where they wanted to present me with an award,” Sinise explained. “I met hundreds if not thousands of people who were not playing a part in a movie.”

That beautiful moment motivated him and gave Sinise the idea to start the Gary Sinise Foundation. For over 10 years, the foundation has been providing veterans with mortgage-free custom homes to help them regain their independence and confidence.

New beginning!

Retired Army Sgt. Christopher Kurtz and the rest of his family were given their mortgage-free smart home that was tailor-fit to the veteran’s needs. It has countertops that he can easily access even though he’s in his wheelchair, spacious hallways, drop-down kitchen shelves, and smart technology which allows him to conveniently control everything inside the house through an iPad.

Kurtz’s smart home also has a garage built with machinery for welding and crafting that were given by his friends at work in PTL Fabricators. He promised to use the shop to pay it forward to other people in need.

Turns out, the day the smart home was given to them was also Kurtz and his wife’s 10th wedding anniversary. It couldn’t get any better than having a new home, could it?

“It’s a bit overwhelming sometimes when you think about how much went into (building the house), how many people put their hands on it, and it’s very humbling,” Kurtz said. “Now, I owe the world.”

Watch the video below to know more about this beautiful story.

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Source: Positive Outlooks, YouTube – ClarksvilleNow, Twitter – @GarySiniseFound