Army Sergeant Anthony Daniel Clingerman was born in Geneva, New York, and spent the first twelve years of his life in upstate New York before moving with his family to Kentucky. He grew up in a large blended family with military parents, surrounded by many siblings. Throughout his childhood, he built strong friendships, wrestled competitively in New York, and later became a volunteer firefighter in Kentucky.
From an early age, Clingerman was drawn to rock and roll music and to understanding how things worked. He was the kind of kid who constantly took things apart just to put them back together again.
The events of September 11, 2001, profoundly shaped his path. With his brother already deployed, Clingerman felt a deep calling to serve. He enlisted in the United States Army in 2001 and went on to serve in the 2023rd Transportation Company, the 759th Military Police Battalion / 89th MP Brigade and the 1-82nd ARB / 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade.Â
Clingerman thrived in leadership roles, finding purpose in guiding soldiers and mastering his craft. The Army revealed his talent for teaching and coaching. His dedication earned him the Army Achievement Medal and combat ribbons for his service in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
During his Iraq deployment, Clingerman was returning from a mission when a mortar struck his forward operating base. The blast threw him into a wall, leaving him stunned. While he initially tried to push through the aftermath, the long‑term effects of the incident grew more severe over time. He experienced immediate memory loss, which progressed into intractable epilepsy, worsening coordination, and significant cognitive challenges. Despite undergoing two brain surgeries, his seizures continue weekly, and public spaces and large crowds have become increasingly difficult for him.
Today, Clingerman finds connection and community through close friends he speaks with online and through his love of gaming. His greatest joy comes from watching his children, Kaden and Lily, grow, with his wife, Kirsten, by his side.
The support Clingerman has received from the Tunnel to Towers Foundation has been life‑changing for him. Having a home where he can feel safe, comfortable, and mobile is something he no longer takes for granted, and his belief that people truly care has been renewed.
Army Sergeant Anthony Daniel Clingerman hopes others remember one message: never lose hope, and never forget your purpose.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has provided Army Sergeant Anthony Daniel Clingerman with a mortgage-free smart home through the Smart Home Program.