Her efforts will benefit a nonprofit organization, Homes For Our Troops, and honor her husband who suffered injuries when a pair of Afghan locals — angry at Joey for confiscating their camera when they were taking unauthorized photos — retaliated by dropping a 450-pound storage locker on top of him. The assault warped his spinal cord, crushed his left leg, caused a traumatic brain injury and nearly killed him.
The locker stayed on top of him for 45 minutes until he was rescued. He spent the next four years in hospitals and rehab centers. Even with paralysis, the spirit of the couple remains strong — Marine strong and Army strong. Joey served in both branches.
They’ve needed that strength. Joey and Debbi (Oldaugh), who married in August 2009 at Archdale United Methodist Church, where she had served as church secretary until they moved to Shelby, now live in a 1,300 square foot home. This home, while fine for most people, is extremely limiting for Joey, who mostly relies on a wheelchair. He has difficulty navigating his wheelchair through the doorways and requires assistance from family members to get into the bathtub, use the toilet or go outside.
The Smiths put in a request with Homes For Our Troops, a national nonprofit organization founded in 2004, which builds houses for severely injured veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The nonprofit has completed more than 50 houses since the agency’s founding and have about 40 more going on across the country.
Joey will be the seventh North Carolina veteran to receive a home from the organization.
Debbi and Joey requested that the house be built near Debbi’s family in Trinity. The Randolph County site is on Jade’s Way in Thomasville.
They have received a Veterans Affair’s Specially Adapted Housing Grant up to the maximum amount of $63,780.
Homes For Our Troops supplements the grant with donations of money, building materials and professional labor. The organization works closely with the Veterans Affairs to make sure that, after all the resources are combined, the home is provided at no cost to the recipient.
That’s where Scott Beane of Beane Construction comes in. He not only helped find the site, which has been purchased by Homes For Our Troops, he will lead a volunteer group of tradespeople to build the home.
“My father served in the armed services from 1966 to 1975,” said Scott. “I just wanted to give back to the men and women who are providing our freedom.”
Debbi’s reason to help the organization is visible everyday — to honor the man she loves. Others have seen why she loves him so much.
Just after they were married, the couple visited Archdale United Methodist Church. The pastor at the time, the Rev. Dana McKim, reintroduced him to the congregation, who stood and applauded the man who had shown such extraordinary courage while serving his country.
Debbi wants to show that same extraordinary tenacity in the 10K portion of the marathon. Training has become a way of life for her.
“I’m working hard at it,” she said. “I’ve been watching what I eat, keeping my diet as healthy as possible. I’m either at the YMCA or at the local park running and working out every day.”
Debbi has a lot to live up to as an athlete.
Joey is involved in many paralympic sports. He participates in handcycling, archery, air rifle, swimming and biathlon. In March, Joey and his team of other talented wounded Marines won the Warrior Games at the Olypmic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Col. Joey won a bronze medal for archery in the New Mexico Games in May.
He completed the 2009 Marine Corps Marathon 10K using a handcycle. He designated his marathon proceeds to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
He hopes to make the 2012 paralympic archery team, but also hopes to be able to navigate through his own home.
“This gift from Homes For Our Troops will give me greater independence and allow me to do things for myself, where before I had to depend on my family,” Joey said.
Debbi has the same determination as Joey. “I’ve said all along, I may not run the whole 10K, but I will finish it.”
She has surpassed her $1,000 goal amount, but she is determined to continue fundraising.
“Our wounded warriors deserve every dime I can raise for them, and doing it for Homes For Our Troops is a way that I can give back,” she said.
Want to help?
To donate to the marathon fundraiser, write a check payable to Team Homes For Our Troops. In the memo line put “Debbi Smith.”
Checks may be mailed to Homes For Our Troops, 6 Main St., Taunton, MA 02780 or to Debbi Smith at 3421 Polkville Road, Shelby, NC 28150.
Donations may be made online at www.homesforourtroops.org/goto/DebbiSmith.
To help in the construction of the home, e-mail scottbeane@triad.rr.com or call 687-0831. For more information, call Homes For Our Troops at 1-866-787-6677 or visit www.homesforourtrops.org.
Donations may be made at any Bank of America location. Donations should be deposited into the account “Homes For Our Troops — Thomasville, N.C.”
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