CPO Julius McManus

Point Washington, FL

Inspired by his father’s legacy of military service, Julius McManus enlisted in the Navy in 1997.

On October 10, 2008, Chief Petty Officer McManus was serving as a diver with the Naval Special Warfare Unit Three, Detachment Bahrain in Haditha, Iraq, when he suffered a compression disc injury leading to spinal necrosis. He was treated for his injuries in theater and completed his deployment.

This injury coupled with repeated blunt force trauma, blast exposures, and hyperbaric conditions, led to his current paraplegia. He also suffers from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that causes frequent migraines, light sensitivity, balance issues, left-side weakness, intermittent speech disfluency, ataxia, and other ongoing challenges.

Julius’ wife, Laura, has been with him throughout all of his multiple deployments with the Navy. They are parents to three adult children: Keegan, Brendan, and Collin. Laura is the director of a nonprofit animal rescue organization. Julius competes as a track and field athlete and qualified for the U.S. Outdoor National Championships, where he earned a silver medal in shot put. He also volunteers as a disability advocate and consultant with the county’s building, parks, and recreation departments, focusing on improving accessibility in public spaces.

A specially adapted custom HFOT home will increase Juluis’ mobility and support his active lifestyle. “An accessible home with features like a roll-in shower, lowered countertops, and wider doorways will eliminate the daily fatigue of simply getting around. Having a functional, well-designed space will make pursuing goals—whether training for a marathon, triathlon, or para-athletics—much more achievable. Our adapted home won’t just be a place to live; it will serve as a foundation for connecting with adaptive athletes and inspiring others,” says Julius.

Originally from Michigan, Julius is choosing to build in Florida to be close to family and friends.

Julius would like to thank HFOT donors and supporters for their support. “Your generosity gives injured Veterans the freedom to pursue their purpose and reclaim their independence. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting Homes For Our Troops and for helping Veterans like me rebuild our lives.”

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