SPC KYLE BURLESON

Springhill, LA

Mission Accomplished on Nov. 14, 2006

Russell Kyle Burleson joined the Army to grow and mature with the intention of making it a career.  

On Aug. 18, 2004, Army Specialist Burleson was severely injured during his first deployment in a firefight in Sadr City, Iraq, while serving as a gunner on an HMMWV with the 1st Cavalry Division. SPC Burleson was shot in his left cheek by a sniper and the bullet exited the back of his neck, causing him to become paralyzed from the neck down. 

He remained in Baghdad for several days while doctors stabilized him after his injury, then he was air-evacuated to the Army Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. After a period of treatment in Germany, he was transported to Washington, D.C., and admitted to Walter Reed Medical Center for numerous operations. 

In his previous home, Kyle spent his days limited to one room because he could not maneuver his wheelchair in an inaccessible home.  This made it difficult for him to spend time with his two children. With a Homes For Our Troops specially adapted custom home, the wide-open floor plan enables him to live comfortably without restrictions on his mobility and recovery. Now that daily tasks, such as taking a shower, are no longer an obstacle, Kyle can enjoy time with his family.  

Kyle would like to thank donors and supporters for helping him regain his freedom and independence so he can focus on his role as a father.