Sgt Kyle Garcia

Byron, CA

 

Kyle Garcia was inspired to join the military by his grandfather and uncles, who also served. He joined the Marines shortly after high school, serving two tours in Iraq in 2007 and 2009. He deployed a third time to Afghanistan in 2011, as a scout sniper with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines.

On Nov. 7, 2011, Sgt Garcia was on a foot patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan, when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED). He immediately lost his left leg in the blast and sustained severe damage to his right leg.

Now medically retired, Kyle lives in Northern California with his wife Crystal and their young son Louis. He is a volunteer writer coach through the organization Writer Coach Connection in his area. He is also an avid poker player. He attended law school in St. Louis, Mo., graduated with his J.D. and LL.M in 2020 and passed the CA bar in 2022. He is planning to become an associate attorney.

Pursuing these goals is difficult for Kyle while living in a home not adapted to his injuries. Because of his amputation and the injuries to his right leg, he experiences weakness, known as drop foot, which makes walking steady difficult. Stairs have become his biggest obstacle, as he has had several falls using them. Additionally, he has trouble accessing his backyard because the land is sloped, limiting his playtime outside with Louis.

A specially adapted home from Homes For Our Troops with automatic doors and an open floor plan will resolve these issues for Kyle. “The home will virtually eliminate all of the stress and uncertainty I currently have for planning to acquire an adaptable home near my family,” he says.

Kyle is choosing to build his home in Northern California, to be close to family and the VA’s prosthetic department.

Kyle and his family are grateful to be receiving the new home, which will provide a better quality of life for them. “The home will eliminate the one major cost in my life, which would free my time and resources to give back and make an impact in the lives of others,” he says.

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