BREMERTON — On May 27, 2011, Air Force Tech Sgt. Daniel Fye was leading an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team — 466 Bravo EOD Flight — in Mushan, Afghanistan.
An IED exploded. Fye lost his left leg and sustained severe damage to his right leg.
Fye recovered to a different life. He had to adapt to his injuries. And he had to adjust to being medically retired.
Undaunted, he continues to enjoy working on cars, lifting weights at the gym, and spending time with his four children and his wife, Nicole.
He would like to race cars, raise money for veterans organizations and build a home gym, where he could teach weight lifting to others with physical challenges.
His goals, and increased mobility, may soon be within reach.
Homes For Our Troops, a national non-profit organization, will kick off the construction of a specially adapted home for Fye on April 22.
The community kickoff event signifies the start of the build process and will introduce Fye to the community. The event will take place at 10 a.m. at Bremerton Eagles Aerie 129, 205 Sixth St., Bremerton. The event is open to the public; check-in begins at 9:30 a.m.
The home being built for Fye will feature more than 40 major special adaptations, such as widened doorways for wheelchair access, a roll-in shower, and kitchen amenities that include pull-down shelving and lowered countertops.
The home will also alleviate the mobility and safety issues associated with a traditional home, including navigating a wheelchair through narrow hallways or over thresholds, or reaching for cabinets that are too high.
The Central Kitsap Reporter missed speaking with Fye before deadline. But in a video, he said the new home will mean “freedom … not just for me, but for my family’s future.”
Homes For Our Troops has built 231 homes since the organization’s inception in 2004. Homes For Our Troops relies on contributions from donors, supporters, and corporate partners for the building of each veteran’s home. Community members may sponsor fundraisers or make donations. To find out more on how to get involved or make a donation, go to www.hfotusa.org.
