Matthews thankful for homefront support

By Stacey Menser - The Times Leader Online
November 29, 2009

Just over five years ago, a construction supervisor in Massachusetts started an effort to see injured American troops provided with much needed and much deserved housing; and now those efforts, initiated by Homes for Our Troops founder John Gonsalves, have led to the construction of a home for Sgt. Chase Matthews and his family in Lyon County.

The Matthews’ home is the first Homes for Our Troops construction in Kentucky.

A Crittenden County native, Matthews was deployed to Iraq with the National Guard when he was severely injured in March 2007. He lost both of his legs as the result of an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) which detonated directly beneath his vehicle. Critically wounded, he was pulled to safety by his commander; and during an ambush, Matthews was airlifted to a field hospital. Later he was transferred to Landstuhl, Germany, and eventually arrived at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

There, he began treatment for his injuries, which in addition to his bilateral amputations, included severe wrist and forearm injuries on his left side, as well as inhalation burns.

"I was there still going through surgeries when I found out about Homes for Our Troops," said Matthews. "I started the application while I was there at Walter Reed."

Matthews knew his injuries would mean finding a new way and possibly a new place to live.

Homes for Our Troops constructs homes that provide maximum freedom of movement and allows severly-injured servicemen and women the opportunity to live more independently.

Matthews returned home to Lyon County where his wife Jennifer is a native and began the next chapter in his life. In February of this year, he, Jennifer and stepdaughter Sarah learned that their lives were about to be drastically changed again.

"They called and said we had been approved for a home. So in mid-March, we flew to Boston and were able to choose our house plans," said Matthews.

The family was also able to choose the location of their house.

"We talked back and forth with them (Homes for our Troops) about a few different locations and they came down to see this piece of land that we really like," said Matthews.

In early summer, a "build brigade" of volunteers arrived at Matthews’ lot, located approximately three miles down Hwy. 373 just outside Eddyville.

"People came from all over; and in just three days, they took this flat piece of land and had the house framed and roof on it," said Matthews.

Taking the helm of the project on the local level was Keith Young, who has been a contractor serving Lyon and surrounding counties for over 20 years. Young has been involved with the project from the beginning and said it has been a very rewarding experience as well as a learning experience for him and his crew.

"This is the first totally Energy Star-rated house I’ve built," said Young, pointing out that everything from the building materials to the insulation to the appliances and light bulbs are Energy Star-rated.

Young said he has known Matthews’ family for years, and when he heard of the project through his building association, Three Rivers, he decided to see if he could help.

"A lot of people have been out here helping," said Young. "We’ve had the carpenter’s union from Paducah, Habitat for Humanity from Madisonville, people from Clarksville, Nashville, Illinois, all over."

Young said finding "donated work" can at times "be tough," but many people have done their part to support Matthews and his family, which expanded by one on Oct. 19 with the birth of his son Owen Lee.

And now, just in time for the holidays, the Matthews family is moving into their new home, which is completely furnished right down to the towels hanging in the bathroom thanks to efforts on the local level.

"We’ve been working on a fund-raising campaign the last six months," said Rick Gill, vice commander of the Lyon County American Legion Post 68. "We’ve had nearly 300 businesses and individuals contribute in some way."

Over $10,000 was raised and that money is being used to purchase not only the towels and other home accessories but also furniture from Feagan’s Furniture in Fredonia.

"We have started a Wounded Warrior fund at BB&T Bank in Eddyville, and that is what we are doing with any donations we have received but not yet used," said Gill. "We will continue to take donations and keep that fund going."

Gill said any donation made to the fund "will stay local."

"We want to take care of our own who live in the greater Lyon County area, and that certainly includes Princeton. Many of the donations we have already received have come from Princeton," he said. "We want to be able to help other servicemen like Chase in the future."

The Matthews family received the key to their new home Monday, Nov. 23, and Sgt. Matthews said it couldn’t have been better timing.

"We have been living just down the road in a trailer and it is beginning to get really tight in there," he said, pointing out his new son Owen.

"I didn’t think such a little guy could take up so much room."

With a new baby and a new home, the Matthews family has plenty for which to be thankful this holiday season.

"And we are very thankful to all the people who have helped along the way," said Sgt. Matthews. "We can’t thank everyone enough."

Homes for Our Troops is rated as one of the top charitable organizations focused on serving military service people across the country.