Severely Wounded Hero

Dennet Oregon

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant

Dennet was inspired to serve after the events of 9/11. He enlisted the very next day and deployed to Afghanistan. On the final day of a five-day patrol, his unit was struck by an explosion that tore through nearly every part of his body.

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Dennet After Double Amputations

He Joined The Army On September 12, 2001

Dennet was just 19 years old when the attacks of 9/11 shocked our country. Dennet joined the U.S. Army the very next day. “When I saw what happened, I decided to sign up and join the Army Infantry.” After completing basic training and Advanced Infantry training, Dennet was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, 3rd Brigade, 2nd of 5th Infantry Battalion where he was a squad automatic weapon gunner, squad and then platoon radio telephone operator for six months before being selected for the Battalion Scout platoon.

It Happened On The Last Mission of His Deployment

Dennet and his unit were deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. On March 29, 2005, his team was spearheading the convoy. “We were returning to our firebase after a five day mission that was going to be the last of the deployment.” He remembered. “All of a sudden, we were hit by an improvised explosive device.”

His Limbs Could Not Be Salvaged

The explosion tore into Dennet’s body, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury, head lacerations, damaged spine, various broken bones, and shrapnel wounds that extensively damaged his legs and arms. He was sent to Trippler Army Medical Center in an attempt to salvage his limbs, but after 18 months of treatment the doctors recommended bilateral amputations below the knees. Dennet was transferred to Walter Reed Army Medical Center D.C. on September 12, 2006, five years after joining the Army.

Now Living In A Home Unfit For His Needs

Dennet was residing with his wife and three children in Derwood, Maryland to remain close to medical care at Walter Reed. Describing his previous home, Dennet explained, “It’s not set up for a wheelchair for someone who is a double amputee like myself."

A New Home

"I'm gonna actually use my wheelchair here!"

"I feel lucky for my family. I feel grateful to see it all come together, I feel beyond blessed and feels beyond good. Wherever I've lived, I haven't had enough room to use my wheelchair, so I just put it away in storage. I'm gonna actually use my wheelchair here. That alone is gonna make a huge difference being able to roll up to the stove and cook."

"I haven't been able to use the master bathroom where we've lived because I haven't been able to squeeze into the bathroom but here there's plenty of room for the chair.

"I never thought Lt. Dan was going to be helping us out. I feel like Gary is the godfather of all of us wounded soldiers. I'm very grateful for the generosity that he's shown on us today. He said life is about love and family, and I am in total agreement."