CPL Zachary “Zac” Dinsmore

Mead, CO

Mission Accomplished on September 7, 2024

Joining the military was something Zac Dinsmore always wanted to do. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Marines as an Infantryman.

In 2011, Corporal Dinsmore deployed on his second combat tour with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines. While serving as a team leader on this deployment, he was instrumental in saving HFOT home recipient Sgt Milan Franklin’s life.

Two weeks later, on Oct. 31, 2011, Zac stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) in Sangin, Afghanistan, severely injuring his leg from the knee down. In 2014, after numerous surgeries to salvage his leg, Zac made the decision to have doctors amputate the limb.

Now medically retired, Zac is a proud parent to his son, Barrett. In his former home, he was limited to one floor due to the non-adapted layout. “Barrett is fast and wants to do different things in different rooms. The stairs made it difficult to keep up with him,” he says.

A single-level specially adapted custom HFOT home allows Zac to raise his son without barriers. He also enjoys welding, blacksmithing, and building things in his garage. The financial freedom of the home will enable him to finish his degree in welding and pursue a career in the field.

He chose to build his home in Colorado, where he grew up, to be close to family.

Zac wants HFOT’s donors to know they are changing lives. He says it felt almost impossible to find a wheelchair accessible home on his own. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to receive this gift, it will make it easier for me to care for my son.”