Disabled Veteran, Family to Receive Home in Smyrna

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Members of the Smyrna community are invited to join local dignitaries and a famous performer in welcoming a disabled army veteran and his family to their purpose-built,mortgage-free home in the city.

According to a release from Operation: Soldier at Ease, the home at 2680 Linnwood Drive will be turned over to SPC Charles Fuller and his wife Ines at 11:30 a.m. on June 1. The ceremony will feature a speech from Col. Jeff Ragland of Helping A Hero in Texas and will be attended by Mayor Max Bacon, “Councilman Ron Fennel , Smyrna City Council members, Representative David Scott’s office, Cobb County Council members, the Patriot Guard, as well as community business leaders and supporters that have contributed to the build.”

Performer Lee Greenwood is also scheduled to appear and sing some of his most famous and popular songs during the ceremony.

“This is the first ever mortgage free home built by an independent charity for a disabled veteran in Smyrna or in fact, Cobb County, Georgia!,” Operation: Soldier at Ease said in a statement.

“This build is a true example of how when members of a community get together – anything can be accomplished!”

“Meet” SPC Charles ”Chuck” Raymond Fuller, III - U.S. Army - Orlando, Florida

Chuck grew up in Northampton, PA, where he liked to play war games with his friends and listen to the stories his grandfather would tell him about World War II. He loved hearing about Japan and the South Pacific. His grandfather had fought valiantly and was wounded as a Seabee, so it was only natural that Chuck would follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and enlist in the U.S. Army.

Chuck went to Iraq as part of a Civil Affairs Special Operations Unit. Not only did he work to rebuild the country through infrastructure projects, but also to rebuild relations with the Iraqis by seeking to win over their hearts and minds.In August 2004, he was in the Foreign Operating Base when it took a rocket hit.

Parts of the building fell, hitting him on the head, leading to a traumatic brain injury. Undeterred, he patched himself up and carried on his mission. Over time, his legs began to go numb, and he began to experience some dizziness.

Finally, a year later, he went to the VA. Since then, the headaches and dizziness have progressed to seizures, which require Chuck to have 24 hour supervision. The leg numbness turned out to be from lower back problems. He now uses a walker or cane. He also deals with some hearing loss and PTSD. Chuck’s wife is his caregiver.

The couple have 5 adult children, 4 sons and a daughter. Sadly, Chuck’s youngest son passed away last January. Another of their sons, as well as his wife and two year old child, have moved in with Chuck to help with his care. Chuck is thankful for his family’s support and the joy his grandson brings.

More About Operation: Soldier at Ease

Operation: Soldier At Ease (OSAE) is a non-profit organization funded branch of the Dana Walters Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity. In order to address current conflict management issues for our military personnel, OSAE was established as a means for providing information and education about conflict management “secrets and dynamics” for military families in crisis.

Operation: Soldier At Ease enjoys a presence at many of the Joint Services Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Events. Our team attends events all over the Atlanta area having the book, “Understanding Conflict – A Resource For The Military Family”, authored by our Board Vice President, Carol Rice, signed by citizens who write personal messages of thanks and encouragement to our soldiers. We then distribute those signed books at the Yellow Ribbon Events and various other military functions all over the country. We strive to increase our reach through the approval of our materials at bases around the country.

Dana Walters, daughter of Karen and Jerry Walters, our board President and Treasurer, was born with Cystic Fibrosis in 1974. She lived until 1994 when her battle was finished. This home is our thank you for her example of what grace and dignity in the face of adversity look like as well as a thank you to the service members that volunteered to make our country a better place. We have joined with our community to ensure military families have the support they have earned.