As the Gary Sinise Foundation nears the completion of our 100th mortgage-free, specially adapted smart home, we continue to celebrate the remarkable men and women whose resilience define our mission. Among them is Petty Officer First Class Joshua Geddis, a U.S. Navy veteran whose dedication to service and helping others has spanned continents.  

A Life Built on Service 

From an early age, Josh knew he wanted to serve. Growing up in Springfield, Oregon, he felt drawn to a life of purpose. By his junior year of high school, that calling became official when a Navy recruiter phoned him one summer morning.  

“He asked in I wanted to join the Navy,” recalled Josh. “It must have been one of the easiest recruitments he ever had.” 

Josh joined the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion, known as the Seabees, as a Navy Builder. Over five deployments to Japan, Indonesia, Iraq, the Philippines, and East Africa, he and his team constructed schools, clean water stations, and community facilities for villages in need – projects that changed lives across the globe.  

A Moment that Changed Everything 

On January 16, 2017, while deployed to East Africa, Josh was helping upgrade his base’s security infrastructure when a 4,500-pound barrier unexpectedly collapsed. In an instant, he was trapped underneath it.  

The impact shattered Josh’s vertebra and crushed his spine, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. After being freed and medically evacuated, Josh began the long, painful road through nine surgeries and months of rehabilitation.  

Amidst it all, Josh maintained a positive outlook. “(You) can’t be sad, that won’t help,” Josh said, “Being mad at yourself for something you cannot control doesn’t help anybody.”  

Life in a Home that Didn’t Fit 

Even as Josh worked tirelessly to adapt, his home environment made recovery harder. Narrow doorways, steep thresholds, and inaccessible bathrooms forced constant dependence on others. Most painful of all was that he was unable to enter his children’s bedrooms.  

The limitations were daily reminders of how much had changed, and of just how much of his independence he had lost.  

A Home That Restores Freedom 

In May of 2024, the Gary Sinise Foundation proudly dedicated our 92nd mortgage-free, specially adapted smart home to Josh.  

Built to restore Josh’s freedom and dignity, the home was designed with wide hallways, accessible bathrooms, automated controls, and open floor plans. The 2,900-square-foot home provides safety, comfort, and mobility for Josh and his family. For the first time since his injury, Josh could wheel freely from room to room.  

“I think I did a 360 in every single room when I got here, just because I could,” Josh said.  

Most importantly, Josh was now able to access his children’s spaces. His daughter, Lillian, shared, “Each person that helped build our house contributed a tiny little part to my dad’s independence, or to the things that my dad will be able to do now.”  

A Legacy of Service Continues 

From constructing schools and clean-water stations around the world to rebuilding his own independence at home, Petty Officer Joshua Geddis’s life reflects service in its truest form. His resilience embodies the spirit of the Gary Sinise Foundation and the mission behind our home building initiative.  

To contribute to future homes for heroes like Josh and his family, please consider donating to the Gary Sinise Foundation today.