SGT GREG EDWARDS

Grand Bay, AL

Mission Accomplished on Sept. 13, 2008

On Oct. 21, 2006, during his third deployment, Marine Sergeant Gregory Edwards was on patrol with Alpha Company in Ramadi, Iraq, conducting house-to-house searches when a hidden explosive detonated. The blast resulted in the loss of both his legs and a shattered left hand. During his second tour, he was nearly electrocuted and spent time at Walter Reed recovering. He also served during the initial invasion of Iraq and saw the statue of Saddam Hussein fall.

Although he is a living example of the war’s cost, he prefers to look back on what he says will be lasting benefits of his sacrifice. “I lost my legs, not for this country, but for the country of Iraq, so their children will be able to run around, just like mine. If time was turned back, I’d do it all over again.”

With everything that he has been through, he remains extremely humble about his service to our country. When people stop to thank him for his service he says “I don’t think I need to be thanked for my service. I chose this, I know that being blown up or dying is one of the hazards of my job. If you don’t expect to get hurt as a Marine Infantryman, you’re in the wrong line of work.”

Homes For Our Troops is proud to have presented a home to Greg and his family on Sept. 13, 2008. The home enables him to move freely and be more independent.