Tunnel to Towers Foundation Unveils Renovated Smart Home for Injured Army Major in Gaylord, Michigan

GAYLORD, MICHIGAN [November 2, 2023] – In a private ceremony, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation welcomed U.S. Army Major Jonathan Turnbull back into his home that has been renovated and transformed into a “smart home.”

MAJ Turnbull enlisted in the Army after graduating from Gaylord High School in 2005. He was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He served multiple overseas deployments to Afghanistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria. 

On January 16th, 2019, MAJ Turnbull and his team had just completed a wellness check at a school in Manbij, Syria, when a suicide bomber detonated his vest. The explosion, which killed four Americans and 19 Syrians, left MAJ Turnbull blind in his right eye, and eventually, he lost his sight in his left eye.

He spent months in the hospital and underwent over 20 surgeries and countless hours of rehabilitation. 

Now MAJ Turnbull serves his community as he was elected to be an Otsego County Commissioner, representing District 3. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Samantha, and their three children. 

The Tunnel to Towers Smart Home Program builds specially adapted, smart homes to help our most catastrophically injured veterans live more independently.

The kitchen has new accessible pull-down cabinets, and smart appliances and has been redesigned to be more accessible. 

Tunnel to Towers installed smart technology, so the essential features of the home can be controlled by voice commands. The home’s lights, thermostat, and security system can be controlled via a smartphone app as well. The Foundation replaced decks and porches around the home, finished the basement, and added a new heating system and a backup generator. 

Because MAJ Turnbull is visually impaired, the Foundation replaced the flooring with different surfaces in each room, so he can identify where he is simply by the feel of the floor. 

Join us on our mission to provide mortgage-free smart homes to our nation’s catastrophically injured Veterans by donating $11 per month at T2T.org.