Volunteers Team up To Build Custom Home in Evans for Double-Amputee Iraq Veteran

First responders nationwide united to construct a specialized home in Evans, Georgia. They built a 2,700-square-foot living space for Army Sgt. 1st Class David Mathis, who survived a devastating blast in Iraq but lost both legs.

The build spanned two weeks under the watch of A Soldier's Journey Home. This nonprofit ensures Mathis won't face any mortgage payments. His new space includes three bedrooms, 3.5 baths, plus vital modifications like extra-wide entries and accessible showers built for wheelchair use.

"Being part of this build is an honor," said Mark Coffman, Chattanooga Fire Department senior firefighter, to NewsChannel 9 in Chattanooga. "It's our way of giving back to someone who has given so much for our country."

The construction team includes nine Chattanooga Fire Department staff, both active and retired. They started on May 18, 2025, with final touches wrapping up on May 31, 2025, with a special unveiling.

"There's a team that plans this, and it takes a whole entire year to put this together. We come into the community and speak to construction leads and try to get in-kind donations with a lot of materials, a lot of effort goes into the pre-build," said Brian Fitzpatrick, president of A Soldier's Journey Home, to WRDW. 

The group started after 9/11, when NYC firefighters wanted to return the kindness shown by other states. Since then, they've built homes across nine states — from Maine to Louisiana, Texas to Illinois.