The Gary Sinise Foundation recently gave a smart house to a soldier of the 101st Airborne Division . He lost his legs after a battle. After being accepted for one to two years, former Army Sgt. Christopher Kurtz of Adams, Tennessee, got a four-bedroom, three-bath mortgage-free house!
“We assist soldiers and first responders in their rehabilitation journey,” Gary Sinise Foundation CEO Mike Thirtle said. “When Gary asked us to carry out his vision of offering these houses to veterans, he asked us to make them adjustable and tailorable for them and their families.” The Kurtzes’ bungalow home was constructed to meet the demands of the veteran, with wheelchair-accessible worktops, wide corridors, drop-down shelves, and smart technology that allows the homeowner to operate everything in the house using an iPad.
In a video broadcast at the occasion, Sinise remarked, “The home that stands before you now is a little gesture of thankfulness and respect from a generous people.” In the 1994 film “Forrest Gump,” the actor portrayed Lt. Dan Taylor. He played a handicapped soldier who served as Gump’s battalion commander during the Vietnam War in the film. He eventually becomes his closest friend and longtime partner.
“Just after the film’s release, I was approached by the Disabled American Veterans Organization, who invited me to their national conference to accept an award,” Sinise stated. “I met hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals who were not in a movie.” This inspired Sinise to establish the Gary Sinise Foundation, which has supplied veterans with mortgage-free bespoke houses for over ten years, enabling them to reclaim their freedom.
“I am tremendously thankful to the Gary Sinise Foundation, not just for what they do for the military community, but for altering my life with this beautiful house that will help me regain my mobility and make life simpler for our family.” Kurtz enrolled in the United States Army in February 2009, hoping to change his life. Serving in the military would also be an important step toward obtaining a higher education as well as honoring the heritage of his family who served in the armed services.
On June 13, 2010, Kurtz went to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division to the Arghandab River Valley area. Every day, the troops were thrust into combat situations very quickly. A remote improvised explosive device (IED) exploded near where Kurtz was strolling in December of that year. The bomb caused severe damage to Kurtz. It ripped through his legs, causing him to lose two fingers on his left hand and break his pelvis three times.
Following battlefield stabilization, the soldier was taken to Kandahar Air Field, then to Landstuhl, Germany, before being transported to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for further treatment. In both instances, his legs were removed above the knee. After four years of active duty, Kurtz medically retired from the Army with the rank of Sergeant in 2013. Kurtz’s smart house garage is outfitted with welding and handicraft tools.
His employees at PTL Fabricators surprised him with a gift. The soldier said he wants to give back by visiting the business. “I want to create new goods and enhance old ones so that I can assist folks in similar circumstances,” he said. Local companies that participated in the home’s construction were 31W, PTL, A-Team Concrete, Coffman’s Home Decor, Andrews Flooring, Heritage Tile, ABC Supply, Southern Roofing, and Screaming Eagle Concrete.
The house was sold on March 24th, just as Kurtz and his wife, Heather, were celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary. “It’s a little overwhelming sometimes when you think about how much went into (creating the home), how many hands touched it, and it’s extremely humbling,” Kurtz said. “I owe the world now.”
Watch the video below to witness the Kurtzes’ new house being unveiled.