Severely Wounded In Iraq, Young Army Vet Welcomed In San Ramon

SAN RAMON, CA — Thanks to a program that assists severely wounded veterans, a retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant who suffered extensive injuries during a tour in Iraq will live rent-free in San Ramon while he and his family save to buy a home of their own.

Joshua Chinn was introduced during Tuesday's San Ramon City Council meeting as the recipient of a low-income housing unit in The Preserve — that comes with a four-year rent-free lease. The generous offer was made possible by San Ramon-based Sentinels of Freedom, which assists severely wounded veterans.

Sentinels of Freedom Chairman and CEO Mike Conklin was on-hand Tuesday night to introduce the Chinn's to the community. Chinn and his family currently live in Dublin, where the retired army man grew up. Their new Preserve home will be ready for move-in next fall.

Chinn served for eight years in the military. He was injured when the vehicle he was traveling in was struck by an IED, Conklin said. The staff sergeant suffered numerous broken bones, gunshot wounds and shrapnel injuries. He underwent 50 surgeries as a result, Conklin continued.

After returning to civilian life, Chinn and Conklin connected while the retired staff sergeant was doing an internship at a nonprofit that offers a one-year program for wounded, ill, and injured service members. The experience led to his current position with Google, where he works in the company's cyber protection unit.

"Mike and his team bent over backward," Chinn said, noting that he could not have taken the internship or moved back to his hometown had it not been for Sentinels of Freedom.

"Many of the brave military men and women who have served our country in Afghanistan, Iraq and other areas since 9/11 have suffered service related injuries resulting in severe and permanent physical disability," Sentinels of Freedom states on its webpage. "It is the mission of the Sentinels of Freedom to assist these permanently disabled veterans in their efforts to become productive, self-sufficient, integrated members of their local communities upon their return to civilian life."

"People power made this possible," Conklin said. "These veterans are a great investment in our community."