Who We've Helped - Serving Those Who Serve

Who We've Helped Rebuilding Together's Serving Those Who Serve is a special initiative to provide critical services to injured military personnel returning from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan who have a service-related injury. Please read about the families we have helped.

Jay Briseno U.S. Army Reservist and Civil Affairs Specialist Joseph (Jay) Briseno Jr., 22, is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a Civil Affairs Specialist, Jay was responsible for identifying and providing assistance to Iraqi citizens to help rebuild the country. He was severely injured in June of 2003 when he was shot in the neck in a Baghdad market; the bullet severed his spinal cord. Jay is now a C3 quadriplegic with Anoxia Brain Injury. He has survived two cardiac arrests. Jay is paralyzed from the chin down and is attached to a life-support ventilator and a feeding tube to ingest food and medications. Officials describe Jay as one of the most severely-injured soldiers to return from Iraq alive. Jay lives with his parents, Joseph and Eva Briseno, in Manassas, VA in a three story home. Jay's father resigned from work to help with his care but has recently been re-employed to help pay medical expenses. Jay's mother continues to work. However, due to Mr. Briseno's change of employment the family's income has been significantly affected. They cannot afford the types of home modifications needed to help Jay. Rebuilding Together's Serving Those Who Serve featured a project providing cost-free modifications for a severely-injured veteran in Clinton, MD on November 9, 2005. The project received media coverage locally and nationally. Mr. Briseno saw news footage of this project, filled out and application and submitted it to the National Office on November 10, 2005. Rebuilding Together's Serving Those Who Serve contacted the Briseno's and visited the home to assess the types of modifications that can be made to help Jay and his family live in a safer, more easily accessible environment. Some modifications include: remove the existing shower facility and installing a curbless shower with hand held components so Jay can easily be moved into the shower, widening the bathroom doorway to accommodate the size of Jay's shower chair, installing a gas-powered generator connected to double electrical circuits around the bed to provide back-up/emergency power for Jay's life support equipment, framing and building a screened in porch so Jay and his family will be able to safely spend time outside in a screened-in environment, and other cosmetic improvements including floor repairing and painting. Back to top

Robert and Devona Bonner Sergeant Robert Bonner Jr. and his wife, Staff Sergeant Devona Bonner are veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Devona was deployed to Iraqjust days after their January 2004 wedding and Robert deployed a month later. Sergeant Robert Bonner was stationed out of the 409th Base Support Battalion on Fort Rose, Vilseck, Germany with the 1st Infantry Division, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry (1st ID 2/2), or the Big Red One. Serving as a Senior Medic, Sergeant Bonner was responsible for the combat readiness of 75 infantry soldiers. When platoons are on the move conducting raids, searches, guard duty and more, medics are required to accompany the squad should medical expertise be needed. On July 5th, 2004 Sergeant Bonner was on a routine patrol from a Forward Observation Base when his convoy fell under attack in RPG Alley. An Improvised Explosive Device was detonated next to his vehicle. Sergeant Bonner lost his right leg above the knee and his left leg below the knee; he also took shrapnel to the face and has limited vision in his right eye. He was flown to Walter Reed Army Hospital for treatment and rehabilitation. For his efforts, Sergeant Bonner was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, The Iraq Expeditionary Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the NATO Medal. Working in partnership with Walter Reed Medical Center and the Military Severely Injured Joint Support Operations Center (JSOC), the Bonner Family was put in contact with Serving Those Who Serve. In conjunction with Rebuilding Together’s Affiliate in Prince George’s County, Maryland, qualified teams visited the Bonner home to develop a project scope. Sergeant Bonner uses a wheel chair and prosthetics to maneuver throughout his home. Serving Those Who Serve project managers plan to provide home modifications to accommodate his injuries so that Sergeant Bonner will be able to live in his home with safety and independence. Back to top

Corey Webb Over 15 skilled volunteers from tree Rebuilding Together affiliates across the state of Alabama came together on December 3, 2005 to provide Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Corey Webb with free home modifications to help him move throughout his home with ease. On August 21, 2004, Webb's Humvee struck a stationary tank and rolled. When he woke up, the vehicle was on his left leg. On November 4, 2004, surgeons from Walter Reed Army Medical Center removed Webb's left leg at the knee. On his first day of work as a civilian, Webb was late to work. He had removed his prosthetic leg to take a shower. When he entered the shower stall, he slipped and was knocked unconscious. With grab bars and a lipless shower, Webb wold not have had to climb over the lip at the base of his shower. Instead, he would have used grab bars to support his weight as he shifted his body forward. Rebuilding Together's Serving Those Who Serve did just that: improved independent mobility in the home. Mr. Webb was put in contact with Rebuilding Together's Serving Those Who Serve program after attending a press conference announcing the new nationwide initiative on September 8, 2005 on Capitol Hill. Congressman and Honorary Advisory Committe Co-Chair Spencer Bachus (R-AL) spoke to Mr. Webb's sacrifice for his country and the importance of Rebuilding Together's Serving Those Who Serve program for veterans returing from operations overseas. Some of the modifications to Webb's home included: the removal of the bathtub and the installation of a curbless shower, the replacement of vinyl flooring in the bathroom with non-slip tiling that reduces the risk of tripping, and the installation of shower grab bars for support. Working in partnership with Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Military Severly Injured Joint Support Operations Center (JSOC), and the Office of Congressman Spencer Bachus (6th District - AL), Corey Webb w put in contact with Serving Those Who Serve. Qualified teams from Alabama Rebuilding Together affiliates visited Webb's home to assess what types of modifications should be done to work in conjunction with his injury so he will be able to live in his home with safety and independence. Back to top

Sergeant First Class Juanita Wilson Sergeant First Class Juanita Wilson, soldier, wife, and mother, is one of eleven women injured in combat serving in the War on Terror. Sgt. Wilson lost her left hand in Iraq when an IED detonated near her vehicle. After receiving treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and adjusting to life with her prosthetic, she re-enlisted as a supply sergeant in the Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) program at Ft. Meade, MD. Sgt. Wilson, recipient of the Purple Heart, said, "The Army believes, as I believe, that I can make a difference and be a leader and continue my military career- and do an outstanding job at it." Currently, Sgt. Wilson lives with her 7-year old daughter, Kenyah, in Rosedale, MD, while her husband, Charles, is in the US Army. Charles enlisted 14 months after she was injured. Another way that others are helping provide Sgt Wilson with the support she needs is through Rebuilding Together's Serving Those Who Serve program. Devona Bonner, wife of injured Iraq veteran and Serving Those Who Serve recipient Robert Bonner, contacted Sgt. Wilson about the program. Representatives from Serving Those Who Serve visited Sgt. Wilson's home and developed a work scope that will install modifications to help her move throughout her home with safety and independence. Rebuilding Together's Serving Those Who Serve is proud to assist Sgt. Wilson. Modifications to the home include: replacing the door knobs in the house with lever handles, installing handrails in all areas of the home with stairs, installing grab bars in the bathrooms to assist with balance, re-arranging storage areas to reduce clutter, enhancing lighting including outdoor motion sensor lighting and installing an upgraded security system. Extensive plumbing and other home repairs will be provided by Rebuilding Together. The support from Serving Those Who Serve will help Sgt. Wilson move forward in life as a wife, mother and soldier. "I am most proud of being a woman in combat. I want my 7-year old daughter to know I never give up," Sgt. Wilson said. Rebuilding Together's Serving Those Who Serve is a special-needs initiative providing free home modifications to injured veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Working with founding sponsor Countrywide Financial Corporation, Serving Those Who Serve utilizes Rebuilding Together's home modification and renovation expertise, combined with a base of 267,000 volunteers across the country, to help and thank these brave men and women for their service to their country. Back to top

Staff Sgt. John Q. Adams In celebration of the Fourth of July holiday, Rebuilding Together's Serving Those Who SERVE program will assist US Army Staff Sgt. John Quincy Adams, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom who was seriously wounded in service and now suffers complications from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Staff Sgt. Adams was severely injured in Iraq when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near his humvee while on patrol in August of 2003. The explosion left Staff Sgt. Adams with serious injuries including periods of paralysis and memory loss, speech impediments and other symptoms as a result of TBI. Staff Sgt. Adams, 40, lives with his wife, Summer and their two sons Christopher, 5, and Brandon, 7. Also living in the home is Staff Sgt. Adams' mother. They live in Miramar, Florida, an area close to the Miami VA Hospital. Staff Sgt. Adams continues speech therapy and physical therapy to recover from his injuries. His hard work has helped him to better communicate with Christopher and Brandon over time. He is able to walk to pick his children up from school. It is Staff Sgt. Adams' hope that he will one day be able to run and play with his children again. As a platoon sergeant in the Florida National Guard 124th Infantry, Staff Sgt. Adams was responsible for approximately 30 soldiers located in and around Ramadi, a city located in the southwest corner of the Sunni Triangle, a focal point of the insurgency. Rebuilding Together's Broward County affiliate was introduced to Staff Sgt. Adams via the Rotary Club of Pompano Beach and Operation Brave Kids. The Broward County affiliate organized a site visit to review the needs of Staff Sgt. Adams and to introduce Serving Those Who SERVE, a national initiative of Rebuilding Together and Countrywide Financial Corporation designed to provide free modifications in the homes of soldiers and veterans who were severely-injured in Iraq or Afghanistan. Several of the modifications that will be provided by Serving Those Who SERVE include: a "zero entry" shower, grab bars in the bathroom, a utility room with appliances and a pantry in the kitchen area, window repair and installation of accordion shutters for the front window, electrical upgrades, gutters, door replacements, handrails, a 35' concrete walk, interior painting and landscaping. Back to top

Harrison Manyoma In recognition of the our one year anniversary, Rebuilding Together's Serving Those Who SERVE program will help Harrison Manyoma, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom who was seriously wounded in service and now suffers complications from third degree burns to his right arm and hand. Mr. Manyoma was severely injured in Iraq when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle while on patrol west of Baghdad on July 2, 2004. At the time of the injury Mr. Manyoma was a Corporal in the U.S. Army 1st Division, 4th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment based in Fort Hood. His battalion conducted patrols and provided security for civilian workers. The explosion left Mr. Manyoma with serious burns that cause severe pain, limiting use of his right arm and hand, and requiring him to wear a special compression glove. Mr. Manyoma lives with his wife, Lisa and their two children in Houston, Texas. Mr. Manyoma's injuries prevent him from exposing his arm to sunlight or participating in vigorous activities; doing so causes extreme pain and may exacerbate his condition. Despite the severity of his burns and multiple subsequent surgical lnterventions, Mr. Manyoma has functional range of motion in his right arm. However, difficulties are apparent when performing common activities that require sustained, prolonged or repetitive gripping, pinching, reaching or lifting. The Manyoma family recently experienced another hardship on June 19, 2006 when a foot of water entered their home during the extreme flooding in the city of Houston. The family was forced to evacuate in their pickup truck, driving through high flood waters to safe dry ground. Due to the generous support of founding sponsor Countrywide Financial Corporation, Serving Those Who SERVE will be able to provide Mr. Manyoma with several modifications and repairs. Some of the work to be completed includes: repair and restoration of the roof, installation of front and rear doors, repair of flood damaged sheetrock and electrical systems, installation of hand held shower, replacement of interior door handles with levers, painting and landscaping. Back to top




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