Members of the Wounded Heroes Fund hit the road this week, visiting two of our local servicemen recovering after losing their legs.
Meantime, the non-profit is already preparing another local hero and double amputee's home, making it ready for him when he returns.
Just beyond the American and Marine Corps flags, work is well underway at Lance Corporal Joshua Brubaker's family home.
The local Marine lost his legs in a roadside explosion in Afghanistan in June.
As he continues to recover at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington D.c., Wounded Heroes enlisted contractor Greg Wattenbarger to help make Brubaker's home wheelchair ready.
Wattenbarger gladly donated his services.
"It's great. There's no other words to put it after. You do it, and you see the joy in the people's eyes when they come to you and say 'thank you.' And, it's like 'wow.' I did my part to serve the country for what huge things they've done," he said.
Builders are extending the side wall on the home and building a specialized bedroom, bathroom, and carport, giving Joshua some independence when he comes home.
Only a week into the project, so far everything has been donated, but the permit.
"You have Wounded Heroes that steps up. They have people they're going to work with that are in the trades and stuff like that, and basically they say 'Don't worry about it. Don't worry about it. We're going to take care of it' and they have," said William Brubaker, Joshua's father.
Wounded Heroes also took time to take care of two other double amputees recovering in San Diego.
30 volunteers traveled to Balboa Naval Hospital this week to hold a barbecue for all of the servicemen and women and to see Jeremiah Thein and Jorge Salazar, local double amputees recovering there.
"Make sure they know their hometowns are behind them and supportive of them and wanted to bring them a little taste of home there," said Wendy Porter, Executive Director, Wounded Heroes Fund.
That taste was donated and catered by Café Med, Mexicali, Luigi's, and Dewars.
It was a chance for volunteers to serve our wounded heroes after they've gone beyond the call of duty.
"Just showing them how much Kern County appreciates them and what they've done for us. We don't take it lightly that they sacrificed both legs, you know, for their country, for us," said Porter. "And, we want to make sure that they know that it's not going to be forgotten and it's appreciated."
Joshua Brubaker's dad tells us his son will likely get to come home briefly in December. But, he will have to return to Walter Reed.
The hope is Joshua will be transferred to Balboa Naval Hospital by March.
Construction on his new room is expected to take four months.
