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Marine Cpl. Justin McLoud, deployed with the 3/5 Darkhorse Marines, was on his third deployment when he was left a triple amputee after an IED blast in Sangin, part of the northern Helmand Province of Afghanistan, on December 10, 2010. Periodically taking enemy fire while on foot patrol, Cpl. McLoud had already moved across a bridge when his teammate began to cross and stepped on a pressure plated IED. The blast caused traumatic amputations of both of Cpl. McLoud’s legs above the knees and required the amputation of his left arm due to the extent of his injuries. Airlifted to Camp Leatherneck, crews stabilized Cpl. McLoud for a flight to Landstuhl, Germany. Waking four days later in Bethesda Naval Medical Center he would spend five weeks there before being transferred to Balboa Hospital in San Diego. Enduring more than fifty surgeries, Cpl. McLoud continues his rehabilitation as an out-patient with daily physical therapy at Balboa at this time.
Cpl. McLoud enjoys spending time with his wife, Amber, and their young son, Desmond. Justin enjoys history and being outdoors: he especially likes to fish and snowboard. With plans to become a teacher in the future, Justin is looking forward to attending college to obtain a degree in history. Though presently living in handicapped housing, the accessibility is still not ideal. Even with ramps instead of stairs and slightly wider doorways, Justin can barely reach most of the cabinets in the kitchen. Corners throughout the house are at 90 degree angles with a steep turn radius for a wheelchair which has caused the doors to become loose or need to be completely removed because of damage caused by the wheelchair hitting at their edges; the bathrooms are narrow and difficult to use, with sinks that are not roll-under and wheelchair accessible. An accessible home from Homes for Our Troops will allow Justin independence in his own home.
When asked what receiving a home from Homes for Our Troops will mean to him, Cpl. McLoud shared the following, “One of the first concerns my wife and I had after my injury was trying to figure out where we could live that was adapted for me but also a nice home for our young son…HFOT has lifted that burden. Thank you for your support it means a lot to my family and me.”
Project Updates!
Thank you to everyone who came out to the Key Ceremony for Cpl Justin McLoud during our " Homes for the Holidays" !
