TIPTON COUNTY, Tenn. — A retired Marine Corporal from Munford, severely wounded in Afghanistan, found out how much his community loves and supports him.
Christian Brown lost both of his legs and suffered other traumatic injuries in 2011 during his second tour in Afghanistan.
Friday morning dozens of friends and supporters lined up to show their appreciation to retired Marine Corporal Brown and to help him celebrate a “new chapter” in his life.
“I lost both legs, I lost a finger, I had multiple blast wounds, I had internal bleeding, internal fractures, loss of blood, loss of my life a couple of times on the table. But I remarkably pulled through,” said Brown.
He had been living with his parents since leaving the Marines, but that changed thanks to the Gary Sinise Foundation.
Crews started demolishing a vacant house on Bowers Road in Tipton County, clearing the way for a new “Smart Home” provided by the Foundation.
“To be able to have washers and dryers that are on my level, not on your level standing on two legs. Cabinets will be on rail systems that will come down where I can reach and get a glass or get a plate when I need it,” he said.
It waas clear by Christian’s “all terrain” chair he loves the outdoors and his new home will allow him to be closer to nature.
“Home is a place where you feel you’re most secure at your most vulnerable moment. And this is going to be a home where he can flourish. He can have more energy to get up in the morning, go make his turkey calls, go hunting and fishing,” said U.S. Navy Chief William Wagasy with the Gary Sinise Foundation.
But even with his catastrophic injuries, Brown was a Marine at heart.
His mother said she knows he would gladly face enemy fire again.
“Oh absolutely. If there was a way he could be over there in his prosthetics, he would be right back in the thick of it. He misses it,” said Lyn Braden-Reed, Christian’s mother.
During his time in Afghanistan, Brown led 163 missions andwas credited with saving a wounded comrade during heavy fire.
