LCpl Salvador “Sal” Gonzalez Jr.

Rockvale, TN

Salvador “Sal” Gonzalez Jr. enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2003, motivated by the events of September 11, 2001. He chose to be Infantry to “get into the fight.”

On October 31, 2004, Lance Corporal Gonzalez was serving as a machine gunner with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division in Iraq when his vehicle drove over an improvised explosive device (IED). He sustained severe injuries resulting in the amputation of his left leg below the knee, right leg nerve damage, back injuries, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

He was medically evacuated to Al Assad Airbase, where he was placed in a medically induced coma before transferring to Landstuhl, Germany. Stateside, he underwent more than thirty limb salvage surgeries at Bethesda Naval Medical Center and spent more than a year in rehabilitation learning to walk using his prostheticat Brooke Army Medical Center.

Sal and his wife, Christy, are parents to two children. Sal is a Nashville-based singer/songwriter who performs throughout the area, including charity concerts supporting Veterans and military families. In addition to his music career, Sal works at the Wounded Warrior Project and volunteers with Creativetsand Operation Cherrybend, where he performs at their annual Heroes Concerts in support of Veterans and first responders.

In his current non-adapted house, Sal faces challenges completing routine household tasks from his wheelchair. A specially adapted custom HFOT home with a single-level, open layout will enable him to carry out daily activities safely and efficiently while allowing necessary time for rest. Additionally, the mortgage-free home would allow him to focus on his future.

“A donated home would empower me to further pursue my career as a musician and public speaker by allowing me to invest in myself. Through music, I serve my community and fellow Veterans by raising money for Veteran causes with my talents, as well as helping them tell their story through songwriting and public speaking,” he says.

Originally from California, Sal is choosing to build his home in Tennessee, where he currently resides.

Sal extends his sincere gratitude to HFOT donors and supporters who make this work possible. “Knowing that there are people like you out there keeping the promises made to our Veterans warms my heart and restores my faith in people,” he says.

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