In a private ceremony, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation recently welcomed retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant Luis Morales into his mortgage-free smart home in Stafford, Virginia.
According to a release, Morales grew up near Fort Bragg, North Carolina with several family members in the military. Once he heard about the job of an Airborne Ranger, Morales knew he wanted to challenge himself and enlisted in the Army in 1996. After graduating from Ranger and Jumpmaster school, Morales graduated from the Special Forces Qualification course and earned a Green Beret.
“When I joined the Army, I was a skinny 19-year-old. I was not very muscular, but I had the heart to push when things got hard,” said Morales in the release.
While deployed in Afghanistan in April 2008, Morales’ Special Forces unit was caught in a fierce battle where he was shot in the right thigh and again in his ankle while tending to an injured team member. The gunfire became known as the Battle of Shok Valley, and Morales and all 10 members of his unit received Silver Stars for their service and bravery.
Unfortunately, after two years of limb-salvaging surgeries, Morales had his right leg amputated below the knee. However, he continued to serve with the Army for six more years, marking a 20-year career by the time he retired.
According to the release, Morales embraced his injury and did not let it redefine his life, persevering and becoming a para-triathlete, finishing 35 triathlons and completing the Boston Marathon on a handcycle just months after his amputation.
Morales is also actively involved in the Veteran Golfers Association and shares his love of the game with his children and his fellow veterans.
Morales met his wife, Kathryne, when they were sophomores in high school. They have been married for 26 years and have three children.
In 2018, the Morales family met with a contractor to build the home of their dreams with his injuries in mind. Over the years, adjustments have been made, but Tunnel to Towers paying off the mortgage was the most significant relief.
“Their commitment to honoring and caring for service members and their families has not only alleviated financial burdens but also provided a sense of security and gratitude that we didn’t expect,” added Morales.
The Tunnel to Towers Smart Home Program builds specially adapted, mortgage-free smart homes or renovates existing homes to help our most catastrophically injured veterans and first responders reclaim their day-to-day independence.
All Tunnel to Towers smart homes are custom-fit with innovative technology, allowing users to remotely control the thermostat, lights, sound system, and security system via an app. A generator is also installed in each smart home to ensure the families are never without power.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.