MSgt Christopher Aguilera

Henderson, NV

Mission Accomplished on September 9, 2023

 
Christopher Aguilera joined the military after his college plans fell through. Having always loved planes, he decided on the Air Force. He enlisted in the mid-’90s and deployed to Korea, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Africa, and several additional deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

On June 9, 2010, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, during his third combat mission of the day, Master Sergeant Aguilera, serving as a Special Mission Aviator, was answering a medevac request to pick up a wounded British Commando when his helicopter was shot down. He was pinned by the aircraft’s transmission with life-threatening injuries, including dozens of broken bones and a punctured lung, and was on fire from the waist down. However, MSgt Aguilera still held off the enemy until his teammates on his sister ship arrived. MSgt Aguilera and HFOT home recipient Anthony Simone were the only survivors of the crash.

Once back in the United States, Christopher spent five months at Brooke Army Medical Center undergoing over 20 surgeries for his injuries, including the partial amputation of his right foot and left leg limb salvage. After an additional six months of rehabilitation at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, Christopher passed his PT test, regained his flying status, and re-deployed to establish the first combat rescue squadron in Djibouti, Africa. During that tour, Christopher sustained a severe infection to the remainder of his lower left leg, which forced him to have doctors amputate it. After his full amputation, he competed in several Warrior Games and the first Invictus Games, winning several gold, silver, and bronze medals before retiring from the military in January 2015 after 23 years of honorable service.

Shortly after retirement, Christopher met his wife Jennifer, and they are now happily raising their son Liam. Chris is a motivational speaker, as well as an avid angler and weightlifter. The family’s former residence was a two-story home with a steep driveway and various levels throughout the house, making wheelchair use impossible. The pain that Chris experienced from wearing a prosthetic all day limited his time with Jenn and Liam.

Receiving a specially adapted custom Homes For Our Troops home gives Chris the ability to participate in daily activities, such as cooking meals for the family. The independence he has regained, combined with the financial stability of receiving a donated home, benefits Chris and Jennifer’s future, allowing them to expand their family and save for their children’s college education. Chris can now be more of a hands-on parent with the ability to care for Liam in a barrier-free environment.

Originally from Texas, Chris chose to build his home in Nevada to be close to family and healthcare.

Christopher is extremely grateful to HFOT’s donors and supporters for contributing to the building of his forever home. “Your donations, no matter what the amount, will help me return to a normal life and to be a better father and husband. The freedom I will gain will be immense,” he says.