<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"There's a new battle for a local wounded warrior.Retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Rusty Dunagan is a triple amputee. His can-do attitude caught the attention of a celebrity's national charity. Now the charity is giving back to a hero who has already given so much.Watch Rob Hughes' reportA roadside bomb took Dunagan's legs and his left arm on Sept. 21, 2010, in Afghanistan. Now it's challenging just to get around his Edmond home.But national and local charities are working together to give this hero simple conveniences others take for granted.\"I've always had a positive outlook on life. I don't let it set me back; it's all just mental,\" said Dunagan, a Purple Heart recipient and Army infantry soldier.A soldier at heart, Dunagan never complains as he moves through his current home, which isn't handicap-friendly.The home has a makeshift ramp in the garage. The doorways and hallways are not wide enough for him to comfortably move throughout his home. The counter tops are not an ideal height for Dunagan. None of this phases him.\"I don't don't look at any barriers that I can't do. I'm doing good, other than missing three limbs. I mean, I'm as healthy as a 20-year-old,\" added Dunagan, who recovered for months in Germany and Texas before coming home to his native Oklahoma.Actor Gary Sinise's Foundation, Folds of Honor, and Warriors for Freedom are giving a \"smart home\" to Dunagan. It's a handicap friendly home that's computerized.The homes are donated to wounded veterans all over the United States. They feature wider hallways and doorways than a normal home, entrance ramp ways, retractable shelving, roll-in bathrooms and automated controls.Folds of Honor is pledging to give scholarships to Dunagan's five children, whose ages range from 3 months old to 16 years old. Warriors for Freedom, a local charity, is raising awareness and funds to help Rusty adjust to his new life.Although a military man is taught to be tough and self-reliant, Dunagan is thankful for these generous gifts.\"That just broadens my independence, and it takes a lot of the stress and the load-bearing off my wife. She doesn't have to worry in the back of her mind, 'Well I left Rusty home, and he can't access all these things.' She can enjoy herself,\" said Dunagan, as he sat in his living room, surrounded by medals and pictures, including a picture of him and former President George W. Bush.Dunagan attributes his wife and children for keeping him motivated and strong. He believes you need to have something positive in your life that personally drives you to keep you going.Now Dunagan is on a new journey, and he's still healing. While the patriotic Oklahoman was leading a mission the day he was injured, he's now on a new mission: Helping other Wounded Warriors just like him.\"I'm going to help out any which way I can, and get them into a home as well. At the end of the day, it can't be that bad,\" he said.His new smart home will be located 6 miles west of Edmond. Groundbreaking for the home is expected to happen in late March.There are many ways you can help wounded veterans like Dunagan get a smart home. An event called Inspiration to Action, hosted by the Gary Sinise Foundation, is being held at 5:30 p.m. on March 11 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Tickets are $100 with the option to purchase a VIP screening of Forrest Gump with Gary Sinise for an additional $50. For tickets and more information on this event, and the Gary Sinise Foundation, visit www.garysinisefoundation.org.Warriors For Freedom, an Oklahoma City-based nonprofit, is also raising awareness and funds for Sergeant Dunagan. The charity is holding the Freedom Rifle Raffle, where participants can win a customized AK 47 manufactured by Oklahoma City-based Two Rivers Arms Company. Tickets are $25, and organizers say there are roughly 500 tickets remaining. For more information on Warriors For Freedom, visit www.warriorsforfreedom.org.For more information on Folds Of Honor, visit http://www.foldsofhonor.org/"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.koco.com/article/edmond-wounded-soldier-gets-smart-home/4297353>