Tunnel to Towers Foundation Delivers New Mortgage-Free Smart Home to Injured Texas Veteran
SGT Willard Hoyum was left paralyzed by an IED in Afghanistan in 2012

On Thursday, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation delivered a life-changing, new, mortgage, free-smart home to injured Army Sergeant Willard “Will” Hoyum in Coleman, Texas.
“The freedom to navigate throughout our new home and utilize each room and its smart-home accessories is truly life-changing,” said SGT Hoyum about his new ADA-accessible smart home.
United States Army E-5 Sergeant Willard Hoyum was born in Bedford, Texas, and grew up in the countryside of northern Illinois, where he enjoyed creek walking, swimming, hiking, boxing, kickboxing, and trail riding with his siblings.
SGT Hoyum enlisted in the Army in 2009 and served with the 307th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. He deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as a vehicle recovery truck commander.
On June 19, 2012, SGT Hoyum’s convoy was hit by a 400-pound IED in Afghanistan. The blast ripped off the front of the cab, and he was thrown 40 feet. He broke his T3 vertebrae, fractured many other vertebrae and ribs, and was left paralyzed from the chest down.
SGT Hoyum has been supported during his recovery by his wife, Rebecca, his parents, his three older siblings, and his two children. His injury has not slowed him down; he has completed a triathlon, learned to ski, and developed a passion for farming, cooking, and woodworking.
SGT Hoyum is looking forward to cooking and baking in his new wheelchair-friendly kitchen with his wife and children, growing food, and raising livestock on his property.
“The love and support we’ve received from the community of Coleman has been amazing. We’re blessed to call this town our new home,” said SGT Hoyum
The Tunnel to Towers Smart Home Program builds specially adapted, mortgage-free smart homes that help our most catastrophically injured veterans and first responders reclaim their day-to-day independence.
SGT Hoyum’s home is completely ADA compliant, with zero thresholds, so he can easily travel from one side of the house to the other in her wheelchair without encountering any obstacles. The doors are automatic, opening and closing with the push of a button, so he can quickly enter and exit his home. Innovative technology installed throughout the home lets him control the thermostat, lights, sound, and security system via an app.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation continues to impact our military and first responder families in 2025, having delivered over 200 mortgage-free homes to veterans, first responders, and the families of fallen heroes last year.
For more information and to support our mission of building homes for America’s heroes, visit T2T.org. Join us in making a difference by donating just $11 per month.
About the Tunnel to Towers Foundation
Born from the tragedy of 9/11, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation carries out its mission to “do good,” by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. Tunnel to Towers is also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America to Never Forget September 11, 2001. Visit t2t.org to learn more.
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Media Contacts:
- Nick Diamantis – Nicholas.Diamantis@t2t.org
- Trevor Tamsen – Trevor.Tamsen@t2t.org