SGT LATSEEN BENSON

Elizabeth, CO

Mission Accomplished on October 22, 2011

Army Sergeant Latseen Benson was on his second deployment to Iraq in November 2005 when a bomb blast caused the immediate amputations of both of his legs. While on patrol with his unit, his vehicle came upon an IED, halting the convoy in Kirkuk, Iraq.

SGT Benson was ordered to search around his vehicle and while doing so, a bomb buried in a grain sack exploded causing the traumatic amputations of both of his legs. First aid measures by members of his unit saved his life as he was medevaced to a local hospital in Balad. Upon being stabilized, SGT Benson was airlifted to Landstuhl, Germany where he would face the first surgeries required to begin his recovery process.

Arriving stateside, SGT Benson spent 9 months as an inpatient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center before being released to out-patient treatment in Texas. SGT Benson enjoys spending time his wife, Jessica and son, Gage. Active in adaptive sports, Latseen participates in skiing, SCUBA diving, tennis, softball, basketball, sit-volleyball, fishing, shooting and hand-cycling. He is a member of the VFW and the American Legion.

SGT Benson would like to thank everyone for their support. Living in a specially adapted home will allow Latseen the opportunity to live a life with the freedom and independence he fought to preserve for this country. Homes for Our Troops is proud to have presented this beautiful home to SGT Latseen Benson on October 22, 2011. A home that he can call his own and that will allow him to move freely and become more independent.