Second Annual Build A House Project
Corporal Garrett Jones and his family will soon have a new house to call home! This Spring, at the Washington Nationals’ Marine Corps Appreciation Game, the Joneses received the surprise of a lifetime, when they were announced as this year’s Build A House Project recipients. Made possible by a partnership between PSC and Operation Finally Home, Corporal Jones, his wife and young son will receive a custom built, mortgage free home.
Born in the small town of Newberg, Oregon, Corporal Jones joined the Marine Corps in August 2005. Assigned to the 2nd Battalion 7th Marines infantry unit, he deployed to Iraq after 10 months of training. On the afternoon of July 23, 2007 (with about two weeks of deployment left), Corporal Jones was walking down a dirt road when an explosion detonated beneath his feet. The explosion resulted in the loss of both eardrums and his left leg. Corporal Jones also suffered severe shrapnel wounds to his arm.
At just 22 years of age, Corporal Jones underwent 20 surgeries in nearly 30 days. After being released from the hospital, he received a prosthetic leg and was on the road to recovery. Shortly thereafter, Corporal Jones found out that his unit was not getting much of a break, and would be going to Afghanistan in April 2008. Choosing to not let his injuries control his life, Corporal Jones wanted to go back to his unit and deploy.
After speaking to his unit commanders and the Commandant of the Marine Corps about his intentions, both commanders supported his endeavor as long as doctors approved him, and he could prove to be useful. In April 2008, Corporal Jones was once again deployed to Afghanistan, serving as a unit intelligence analyst and a hospital liaison for his battalion.
In June of 2009, Corporal Jones retired from the Marine Corps and moved back to Oregon. During his time there he started attending college at Western Oregon University. Corporal Jones also married his wife Allison, and the couple had their first child Hudson. After 3 years of school (and an extremely large workload), Corporal Jones graduated from WOU in June 2012 with a degree in Public Health and a minor in Spanish.
In January of 2013, Corporal Jones, his wife, son and service dog Coal (whom he considers his second son), made the trek to Dumfries, Virginia for a job at Quantico Marine Corps Base. The home they are renting is less than ideal. It is a two-story house, without a handicapped accessible bathroom. The everyday strain of walking up and down the stairs takes a great toll on the knee that Corporal Jones has left.
Thanks to the support of Operation Finally Home, our sponsors, volunteers, and participants in this year’s Major Douglas A. Zembiec Memorial Golf Tournament, Corporal Jones and his family are one step closer to having a home that meets their needs. If you would like to make an additional donation to the project, please contact Beth Moss.