United States Marine Corp Staff Sergeant James Carey was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and grew up in southern California. As a child Carey loved playing sports with his friends, especially baseball, football, and golf. He also rode horses with his mother and sisters, went on many family vacations, and loved spending time with his nieces and nephews.
Carey decided to enlist in the Marine Corp in 2005 after being inspired by his grandfather who was a retired Marine Corp officer. At the time Carey was concerned that the U.S. would initiate a national draft so he enlisted to prevent his little brother from being drafted. Upon his enlistment, Carey was sent to Camp Pendleton for boot camp before serving in the First Radio Battalion. Carey loved being a part of the Marine Corp, and especially enjoyed being stationed in Japan.
Carey lost consciousness and nearly drowned during a recon training exercise at Camp Pendleton resulting in an anoxic brain injury. This brain injury caused Carey to become blind, unable to use his body, extremely susceptible to memory loss, and even brought on dementia. He was in a coma for 3 months, rehabilitation for 2 years, and continues to go to physical therapy on a regular basis.
Currently Carey resides in Aurora, Texas where he has developed a passion for space and NASA. He listens to educational videos most days to keep up with the latest space discoveries and news. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends especially his mother, Kim, step-father, Rickey, brother, Conrad and daughter, Autumn.
Tunnel to Towers Foundation has gifted Staff Sergeant James Carey with a specially-adapted smart home in Heath, Texas.
Carey stated that, “The home that T2T has offered me will change my life and I am so grateful to have a house that is built just for me with the smart features that should make my daily life so much better.”