On April 15, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation welcomed three injured veterans, United States Army Sergeant Kevin Gatson, United States Marine Corps Corporal Travis Dodson, and United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal Eli Tice, into their new, mortgage-free, specially-adapted smart homes.
In November of 2024, Tunnel to Towers broke ground on these residences and built three smart homes side-by-side in Franklin, Tennessee, which will create a community for these heroes, who share a bond through their military service and passion for adaptive sports.
Landscaped and furnished by dozens of volunteers from Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, these smart homes were ready to welcome all three Smart Home Program recipients with beautiful garden beds around the homes, as well as patio dining sets and grills.
Meet Our Heroes:
U.S. Army Sergeant Kevin Gatson enlisted in 2003 and was injured by an IED in Afghanistan on July 12, 2010, resulting in the loss of half of his left leg and severe injuries to his right leg. He is a competitive sled hockey player and the captain of the Warrior Sled Hockey team.
USMC Corporal Travis Dodson was injured in Iraq on February 14, 2007, when insurgents attacked his convoy. He lost his right leg above the knee and his left leg at the hip. He has become a decorated Paralympian, competing in cross-country skiing and winning three Gold Medals with the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team in PyeongChang (2018), Beijing (2022), and earlier this year in Milano Cortina.
USMC Lance Corporal Eli Tice set his sights on becoming a Marine and graduated from infantry school in 2009. On May 24, 2010, he was injured by an IED in Afghanistan, resulting in the loss of his right leg above the knee, his right thumb, and severe injuries to his left arm. He remains active in sprint triathlons, as well as hunting, fishing, and hiking.