SFC JEFFREY HACKETT

Mexico, NY

Mission Accomplished on July 25, 2015

 
Army Sergeant First Class Jeffrey Hackett immediately accepted the fact that he had lost his leg after he triggered a wire-tripped improvised explosive device (IED) while leading Afghan police on a dismounted patrol with the 10th Mountain Division in Kandahar, Afghanistan on Aug. 15, 2011. What mattered more to him was getting home to his three daughters whom he missed terribly.

Airlifted from the battlefield to Landstuhl, Germany, he was eventually brought stateside to Walter Reed and reunited with them. After ten months as an inpatient and four deployments spanning Haiti, Kosovo, and two in Afghanistan, SFC Hackett returned to Fort Drum to finish out over 17 years of service.

Now medically retired, Jeffrey is an avid Boston sports fan (Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics). Having grown up in West Haven, Conn., he chose to live in Mexico, N.Y. to be closer to family. Previously, he lived in a home that was not wheelchair accessible. Jeffrey worried about his safety, whether it’s taking a shower or moving groceries into the home from his garage. Chores such as laundry were problematic since the laundry room was difficult to access, and bending and reaching for the appliances was hard on his back.

The features in the specially adapted home that Jeffrey and his family received from Homes For Our Troops alleviated those concerns. “The whole design of the home gives me more freedom and independence to maneuver all around the home,” he says.

Jeffrey says not worrying about a monthly mortgage payment eases his mind and helps him focus on his recovery and rebuilding his life.

Jeffrey is passionate about filming and photography and would like to open his own photography business. He recently received a Certificate of Graduation from the New York Institute of Photography for his completion of their professional photography course. He is involved with several nonprofits that help Veterans, including one that helps with the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled military service personnel through fly fishing. He has also become a certified peer to peer amputee mentor through the VA. Jeffrey enjoys taking camping trips with his family and fly fishing, kayaking and bicycling. He is also playing on the USA Patriots, America’s amputee softball team.

Jeffrey would like to thank donors and supporters for their help in ensuring HFOT succeeds in its mission of taking care of our nation’s Veterans who were severely injured in combat. Says Jeffrey, “My family and I are truly blessed and I thank everyone for helping our dream of having a safe home come true.”

vc/0114