United States Army Specialist Steven Travis Maxwell embodies the true meaning of service, sacrifice, and perseverance. Traveling throughout the United States with family in his youth, he loved the outdoors, especially exploring mountains and rivers. He enjoyed sports, excelled in school, and made many friends along his journey.
After the tragic events of 9/11, Maxwell made the selfless decision to step forward, enlisting in the Army just six months later. His specialty was the Air Defense Patriot Missile System. As a member of the Patriot Reconnaissance Team, he focused on mine detection and missile systems and radar placement.Â
Maxwell loved everything about the military–running in the morning with his team, training out in the field, learning new jobs, and teaching new soldiers. His achievements while in service were numerous, including helping to integrate air defense with field artillery and infantry to form the first combat ready Patriot battery.
Multiple injuries sustained in the combat zone left Maxwell with a traumatic brain injury, grand mal seizures, daily headaches, memory loss, and impaired hearing. He lives with chronic pain.
Despite these challenges, Maxwell never stopped showing up for the people who needed him most. He finds great purpose in helping other veterans who are navigating their own difficult paths and in being a dad to his children. He draws strength from the simple joys that once shaped him: quiet walks in nature and casting a line on the water. His love of learning remains.Â
Maxwell is grateful for the support provided by Tunnel to Towers, and looks forward to living in a community filled with others who, like him, have served others so selflessly. He welcomes the sense of safety and security his new home will bring, and is excited for the opportunities his children will have in the years to come. His new home represents more than a structure; it is a symbol of healing, belonging, and possibility.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has provided United States Army Specialist Steven Travis Maxwell with a mortgage-free smart home in the Let Us Do Good Village through the Smart Home Program.