1SG Daniel Wallace

Montrose, CO

Mission Accomplished on June 3, 2023

In 1985, Daniel “Danny” Wallace enlisted in the Army seeking a new outlook on life.

On Dec. 9, 2003, 1SG Wallace was serving as the First Sergeant of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, in Tal Afar, Iraq, when he was injured in a suicide bomb blast. He sustained severe eye injuries and was evacuated from the blast site.

Stateside, he underwent multiple surgeries at Walter Reed Medical Center. The damage left 1SG Wallace blind in the right eye and legally blind in the left with deteriorating vision.

While attending a school for the blind, Danny met another injured Veteran who inspired him to help others by joining the Blind Veterans Association, where he currently supports and advocates for other blind comrades through phone calls and outdoor rehabilitation trips. He has the full support of his daughters, Melissa and Brittney, who have participated on trips as guides.

After losing his eyesight, Danny found it increasingly difficult to navigate his previous home. He was relieved to learn about Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) through fellow HFOT home recipients Army MSG Eric Marts and Army SPC Steve Baskis. During a visit to Steve’s HFOT home, Danny experienced firsthand the hands-free accessibility features that make daily living easier. He feels honored to have received the life-changing gift of a specially adapted custom HFOT home. The independence he has regained now allows him and his wife, Kelly, to enjoy more time together doing the things they love.

Formerly residents of Grand Junction, Danny and his family chose to remain in Colorado.

Danny would like to thank HFOT donors and supporters for their help in this important mission. “What you are doing for Veterans and their families speaks volumes of your character and beliefs. How can one truly thank another for such a selfless act of kindness? You will never be forgotten.”