Army SGT Eric Hunter of the 5th Special Forces Group was patrolling an area in Afghanistan on May 31, 2012, when he stepped on an IED. His right wrist and left leg were shattered, his right forearm and left knee were broken, his left pinky was snapped at the joint and he sustained serious soft tissue damage from all of the shrapnel. He also lost his right leg.
So far Eric has had 60 surgeries including amputations, bone and skin grafts, and the rebuilding of his left leg.
Eric and his wife, Kenna, now live at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. They also have two children, Kensley and Jayce.
The Hunters deserve to come home to Alabama for Thanksgiving and need our help to make it happen.
Coming home with them will be Army SGT Lucas Oppelt, who was a senior line medic for the 82nd Airborne. During his second deployment in May of 2012, he was seriously injured during a dismounted patrol. He stepped on an IED, losing his right leg and seriously injuring his left leg.
Veterans Airlift Command, a non-profit 501(c) organization, is helping get these wounded warriors and their families home to Monroeville for Thanksgiving in conjunction with Alabama-based defense contractor Xtreme Concepts, Inc.
“These men have given so much in defense of our freedoms, it’s the absolute least we can do to make sure they get to spend the holidays with their friends and family,” Xtreme Concepts CEO Landon Ash told Yellowhammer. “These guys are from right here in Alabama. Let’s join together and get them home.”
Because of their special travel needs — which are a result of their injuries — and the the aircraft limitations of the local airport they will be flying into, the cost of getting sergeants Hunter and Oppelt and their families home will be right at $10,000.
If you are willing to donate, please visit the Veterans Airlift Command donation page and put “Hunter and Oppelt” in the “Donation Honoree” box.
All donations are tax deductible.
Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims
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