PO1 Erik Dimmett

San Antonio, TX

In 1999, at eighteen years old, Erik Dimmett joined the Navy seeking adventure, travel, and new experiences.

On July 26, 2006, Petty Officer First Class Dimmett was on his first combat deployment in Iraq with the 3rd Ordnance Battalion, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 8 when he was involved in an accidental explosion of homemade ordnances. He sustained severe injuries in the blast, resulting in the above-the-knee amputation of his left leg, burns covering up to 75% of his body, left cornea injury, multiple lacerations and residual scarring to his extremities, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

He was medically evacuated to Landstuhl, Germany, and subsequently transferred to Walter Reed Medical Center for advanced treatment. Due to the severity and extent of his burn injuries, he was transferred to Brooke Army Medical Center to the burn treatment facility. Erik has no memory of his evacuation or treatment, and recalls regaining consciousness in the Intensive Care Unit, where he remained for 14 days. In total, his hospitalization and recovery period spanned approximately six months.

Erik and his wife, Alejandra, are parents to Isaiah, Angelina, and Luciana. They enjoy spending time outdoors and staying active.

In their current non-adapted house, Erik wears his prosthetic leg through the early evening, but later at night, he relies on crutches. The ability to use a wheelchair in a specially adapted custom HFOT home would greatly reduce the risk of injury and provide a safer way for him to navigate from room to room.

Additionally, the mortgage-free home would allow him to expand his professional career. “A specially adapted custom HFOT home would allow me to seek a career with more flexible work hours, which is important as I want to balance my professional ambitions with personal time. This freedom would enable me to start a small business or secure remote work, allowing me to prioritize time spent with my wife,” Erik says.

Originally from Georgia, Erik is choosing to build his home in Texas, where he currently resides.

Erik is deeply grateful to the HFOT donors and supporters whose generosity makes a lasting impact. “It is truly inspiring to see an organization, supported by dedicated donors and advocates, providing Veterans and their families with a sense of safety and stability at home, allowing them to focus on rebuilding their lives, pursuing their goals, and spending meaningful time with loved ones,” he says.

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