Thanks to the foundation, an Air Force veteran in Tooele received a new smart house

Tooele, Utah – Former US Air Force Technical Sergeant Jesse Clark and his family were greeted like heroes when they arrived in Tooele to view their new house, which is being provided by the nonprofit Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Because of a brain tumor he developed in the early 1990s while working as an F-16 technician in Turkey after being exposed to chemicals, the 58-year-old, who spent more than 20 years in the Air Force, is confined to a wheelchair.

Mr. Hussein set fire to his oil wells. I suppose I breathed in a lot of the filthy air that flew into Turkey,” Clark remarked.

Upon its founding in the wake of 9/11, the charity Tunnel to Towers Foundation did not overlook Clark’s contributions to his nation.

The new smart house for the Clark family has no mortgage.

Clark and his wife Rebecca experienced the same thing after taking a tour of the house that was intended to make Clark’s life easier around the house.

“Impressive. I’m completely amazed and taken aback,” Jesse exclaimed.

I was astounded and stunned. It’s amazing,” Rebecca continued.

The couple has been together for 36 years, and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation has come in quite handy after they had to battle for years to receive VA benefits.

I was raised in the military and have never owned a house of my own. Yes, this is very amazing. We’ve lived in apartments or base housing,” Rebecca remarked.

In addition to thousands of mortgages the foundation has paid off, the Clarks’ home increases the number of smart homes awarded by the foundation to Gold Star families, injured veterans, and first responders to over 200 and counting.

“We have your family’s back if you put on a uniform and walk out your front door with the risk that you might not be coming home,” stated Jack Kielty, a retired lieutenant from the New York City Fire Department who sits on the foundation board. “Because you earned it, this foundation will take care of you, the people you’ve left behind, and yourself if you’re really hurt.”

Jesse is eager to see how the larger living space would improve his daily life as the Clarks adjust to their new, roomy house.

“I refuse to spend all of my time in this chair and in bed,” he declared. “I’ll be able to get out of bed, see my family, and spend time together.”

Visit T2T.org to learn more about the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and to make a donation.