Master Sgt. Luis Rodriguez and his family react with joy and tears to the site of their new house, constructed in the season premiere of "Extreme Makevoer, Home Edition," as Ty Pennington cheers them on. Kristen Marquez
Posted on 09/20/2005 9:18:21 PM PDT by SandRat
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (Army News Service, Sept. 19, 2005) – The home “makeover” of a Soldier injured in Iraq will kick off the season premiere of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” Sept. 25.
In late June, the family of Master Sgt. Luis Rodriguez got a surprise visit from the cast and crew, including the popular Ty Pennington, and a new 3,225-square-foot home near Fort Campbell, Ky., specifically tailored to the Rodriguez family’s needs.
Rodriguez was injured in Iraq in 2003, losing his right leg above the knee, two fingertips on his left hand and he sustained serious shrapnel wounds when his Humvee was struck by a roadside bomb near Mosul, Iraq. Over a period of four months, he underwent 16 surgeries and had to learn how to walk with a prosthetic leg and crutches.
Despite June’s sweltering heat, some sudden thunderstorms and five days to work, the home makeover for Rodriguez, his wife Lillian and their daughters Michelle, 8, and Melanie, 6, came together.
While the family was away on vacation, the crew of the television program, along with local builders, contractors and about 700 volunteers, rebuilt the Rodriguez family house, bigger and better than ever.
Strong Soldier, strong leader
Maj. Daniel Morgan, S-3 for 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division was Luis Rodriguez’s former commander.
“Master Sgt. Rodriguez is one of the most passionate [noncommissioned officer’s] I’ve ever met,” Morgan said. “He understands how to train Soldiers. He goes above and beyond training -- he actually teaches them.”
Morgan was on his way back in from a patrol in Iraq when Rodriguez’s patrol was on its way out. Rodriguez’s patrol was ambushed. Morgan said it was fortunate that his patrol was right next to Rodriguez’s when it was attacked so they could help out right away.
Once the U.S. element gained superiority, Morgan said he moved in to assess casualties and saw Rodriguez had been injured.
“His entire truck was demolished,” Morgan said. “I reached in to try to pull him out and I had to move a lot of the metal and stuff out of the way, and when I reached in, I realized his leg was gone. He couldn’t hear anything, but he was still trying to lead.
“Personally, half a dozen times we had been attacked as a company, but seeing him was pretty devastating. He had been my platoon sergeant for 22 months, and he had such a strong personality. So to see him so weak was devastating.”
Morgan continues to stay close with Rodriguez and was at the home’s demolition June 24.
“The wonderful thing about the Army is the friendships,” he said. “You pay respect to rank, but in the end the friendship is naturally there due to all the hardships you have to endure together. So this has definitely drawn us much closer in that aspect.”
One of the most important things Morgan wanted to point out about Rodriguez is that he doesn’t see himself as any more deserving of the new home than anyone else. He also said Rodriguez is a father first, then a leader.
“He is just an example to all of us by his commitment to his family, to the Army and to Soldiers,” Morgan said.
“He has said he doesn’t want to retire because he doesn’t know what he would do without Soldiers.”
Families show support
Fort Campbell families were excited to be a part of the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” process. The overall theme of the week-long adventure in the north Clarksville neighborhood was simply doing a good deed for a deserving family.
Jannelle Cundiff, whose husband is a pilot with 2nd Battalion, 17th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, and her friend Lacy Cooper, whose husband is a pilot with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, were at the demolition.
“I just think it’s really awesome that actually somebody is going to do something nice for somebody that basically put their life on the line for us,” Cundiff said.
“I wanted to come out and support the show for the same reason,” Cooper said. “They’re doing good things for people that have given so much and so we wanted to come out here and be supportive not only for the family, but to kind of represent the military families in general and just be supportive. I think it’s great that they came here to honor the military, to do something for a service member that risked life and limb -- literally.”
Neither Cundiff nor Cooper actually knows the Rodriguez family, but both said that didn’t matter to them. After reading about the family in the paper, they were simply touched by their story and felt like they wanted to help out by showing support.
On June 24, demolition day, Soldiers and community members alike signed in beginning at 5:30 a.m. to help.
“We’re just here to show support to a fellow brother in arms,” said Lt. Mike Taylor, Company D, 1st Battalion, 502nd Inf. Rgt., who was one of many Soldiers from his unit that volunteered to help.
160th gets involved
Soldiers from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known as SOAR, volunteered all week in four-hour shifts. Bikers Who Care, a local group of motorcycle and community service enthusiasts, contacted the 160th about volunteering their time to help build the home for the Rodriguez family.
Spc. Nick Brown worked Monday afternoon. He said he had helped with the aquarium inside the house, the garage and some odd jobs in the backyard.
To Brown, knowing his unit volunteered to help a Soldier they don’t even know really meant a lot to him and made him even more proud to say he’s a Special Ops Soldier.
“I just think it’s great to help out another Soldier, somebody that’s been to war and got hurt, and they may need the house. I think it’s a great thing to help out and build for them.”
Family sparks friends
Friends and neighbors are quick to discuss the pleasure of knowing the Rodriguez family.
“We know them through pre-school,” Amy Casner said. “My oldest daughter Jordan is friends with their youngest, Melanie. And we live right around the corner.”
Casner was friends with the Rodriguez family when Luis Rodriguez was injured in Iraq.
“I know at first it was really rough,” she said. “But he’s doing wonderful. They’re real good friends with the people across the street from us, so I see him out there and yell hello.
“They’d probably give the shirt off their back for anybody. They are wonderful people. I couldn’t pick a more deserving family. They are absolutely remarkable.”
Tears of joy abound
With crowds of people gathered in neighbors’ yards, some there since 7 a.m., the Rodriguez family got to see their new house for the first time the evening of June 29.
Ty Pennington emerged from the house with his trademark megaphone around 4:30 p.m., running along the street and slapping hands with spectators.
As Pennington stood by, the famous bus was slowly backed up to hide the house from view.
Cheers from the crowd erupted louder than ever as the family’s limo door was opened.
Then the famous “Bus driver, move that bus!” could be heard.
The crowd picked up on the cheer and began chanting “Move that bus! Move that bus!” over and over.
The bus began rolling and the Rodriguez family could see their new house for the first time.
Luis Rodriguez stared at the house for a brief moment, and then clearly broke into tears.
Soon, the crowd’s chant of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” became nearly deafening.
Both Luis and Lillian Rodriguez were emotional from that point on, wiping tears from their eyes, waving at the crowd and thanking everyone involved.
Around 5:40 p.m., the family was finally taken inside to see the interior.
Show to reveal ‘Spirit of Soldiers’
Although the Rodriguez family has lived in their “made over” house for nearly three months now, they look forward to seeing the behind-the-scenes actions that transformed their home.
“I don’t know what to expect [from the show],” Luis Rodriguez said. “[The producers] won’t tell me anything.”
The Rodriguez’ lives have not been the same since the home makeover.
“The first two weeks after we got back we had people driving by, snapping pictures and coming to the door,” Luis Rodriguez said.
Overall, he is pleased with the new home and is looking forward to seeing how the show turned out.
“It represents a lot; It represents the spirit of Soldiers,” he said. “It will be a positive thing to go out to the entire nation.”
(Kristen Marquez is a staff writer for the Fort Campbell Courier newspaper.)
to read the story.
To bad this wasn't done forty years ago, well I guess you have to skip a generation to get the right thing done.
I don't usually watch the program but will make a point of watching it this Sunday.
It's a good thing I just bought several boxes of tissues the other day. I do believe I'll go through a whole box during the program. :-)
Most likely since it's a 2 hour program.
I buy the jumbo-size boxes so I should be covered. LOL!
It was really a wonderful thing they did and I'm looking forward to the program.
Just as I become cynical about Americans and our committment to freedom and the support of those that fight for our rights, the "real" America shines through.
Take THAT, Code Pink, A.N.S.W.E.R., and all the rest of you leftist scumbags!
I'm also TV-land challenged. Since it's on ABC does that mean you don't need cable (which we don't have) to watch it? I HATE the thought of getting cable but we miss most of the good stuff that way. I'd like to see this one.
I don't usually watch that show, but happened on it a couple of weeks ago. They were building a new home for the parents and children of Laurie P. (can't spell the name, but the first American female troop to die in Iraq, best friend of Jessica Lynch).
BTTT
ping
Thanks SandRat for posting this, can't wait to see it! Got to see the home they built for Lori Piestewa's family here in Flagstaff...it's beautiful!! Kudos to Extreme Home Makeover for doing this!
It was probably the most patriotic and God reverent show I have seen on abc/nbc/cbs in years and years.
Absolutely a stunner. I'm tipping my imaginary hat to the producers and to the those on the show. They were clearly intent on honoring this soldier, his sacrifice, and his family.
The two segments on the flag flown over Bagdad AP on July 4 and on the poem "Final Inspection" were nothing short of outstanding.
One final note/question - did he re-enlist and is he returing to active duty? I thought the show said yes early on, but I'm not sure.
Thanks for the post.
We'll have to watch the follow on show How'd they Do That??! to find out.
I haven't watched this show in the past. But channel surfing I came upon this show the other night. It was outstanding. Heart warming to see the gratitude of the crew and others towards Sgt. Rodriquez and all of our troops.
Can anyone tell me what the name of the poem that was on this episode. I am trying to find it and didn't have time to write it down. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I believe it was "The Last Inpsection."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.