Army SFC Matthew Mickunas

Spanaway, WA

Inspired by the training he received in his high school’s JROTC program, Matt Mickunas enlisted in the Army in 1985.

On June 20, 2004, Sergeant First Class Mickunas was serving as an infantryman with the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division in Iraq, when he was severely injured in an air base ordnance dump explosion resulting from a mortar attack. He sustained internal injuries, bilateral partial hearing loss, tinnitus, and multiple back injuries, ultimately leading to lower body paralysis.

Matt and his wife, Shawna, have been married for 28 years and have four adult children and six grandchildren. Matt is a regional national director of Paralyzed Veterans of America. In his free time, he enjoys fly fishing and playing wheelchair basketball.

His current non-adapted house has wall-to-wall carpet, limiting his mobility. The cramped layout prevents Matt from accessing the back door, closets, and garage.

A specially adapted custom HFOT home with carpet-free surfaces in a barrier-free environment will alleviate the challenges of basic household tasks. “The single-level layout will ensure I can navigate inside and outside the house from my wheelchair. With the backyard safely and easily accessible, I can properly care for my service dog, Cue, and focus my time and energy on interests—which are plentiful.”

Originally from Washington State, Matt is choosing to remain in his home state.

“Thank you to HFOT donors and supporters for helping restore my accessibility, freedom, and independence. I hope to pay it forward and change someone else’s life, just like HFOT and their donors and supporters do for every Veteran and family they serve.”

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