Homes For Our Troops Starts Building Home for Double Amputee Marine, Who Recently Completed Cross Country Journey

A United States Marine—who lost both legs in combat—will soon be getting a new, custom-built home in Valley Center. 

Homes for Our Troops (HFOT) broke ground Saturday on a custom built home for veteran Toran Gaal, the San Diego-area man who lost both his legs while fighting in Afghanistan. Gaal stepped on a 12-pound pressure IED blew up causing him to not only lose his legs but also 30 percent of his brain.

The new home will feature more than 40 major special adaptations for Gaal, including widened doorways for wheelchair access, a roll-in shower and multiple kitchen amenities. Navigating a wheel chair through hallways will also be easier with this home

"Once I have the house or, excuse me, the home, I'll feel comfortable and I can breath, and know that there's not a piece of the house that I cannot get to," Gaal said. 

In August, Gaal and his support van driver, Brian Riley, another injured Marine, traveled more than 3,000 miles across the country to support The Semper Fi Fund. The organization provides financial assistance to wounded Marines and their families while they recover. The Fund assisted his own family in the years following his injury during his third deployment in 2011. 

Homes for our troops has build more than 200 houses for injured veterans. More than 65 homes are in the process of being completed and all all of them have been completely free for the injured veteran. The cost of the home will be covered by Homes for Our Troops. 

Donations for the project can be made in person at the event or online by clicking here.

Contact Us