Wounded Woodbridge Marine gets help from housing organization

The effort to bring a wounded Marine home got a visible boost Monday during a ceremony at the Himan family residence in Woodbridge.

Joshua Himan was a 25-year-old Marine lance corporal when his Humvee hit an improvised explosive device in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in September of 2009.

The resulting explosion left him paralyzed from the chest down. And while Himan is expected to complete his outpatient care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center at the end of March, his parents’ home must be modified and made accessible before Jerry and Patricia Himan can bring their son home.

Enter the Northern Virginia Fuller Center for Housing, which is spearheading the effort to raise funds, secure subcontractors and coordinate volunteers to build an addition for the Himans that will outfit their multi-level home with an accessible bathroom; wide doorways and hallways; and a master suite with sufficient space for Joshua.

“It is truly an honor for Northern Virginia Fuller Center to pull this build off,” said Jacob Koch, president of the Fuller Center. “We will be doing this build the first two weeks in March to bring Joshua home.”

Robert Lang of Triangle is serving as a local coordinator supporting the Fuller Center’s mission in recognition of the service that Joshua and his family have given to the country. Lang is challenging the rest of the community, even if it is in the smallest way, to step up and recognize Joshua’s sacrifice.

“Everyone can do something,” said Lang. “Some people will donate money; and that is good, as the need is great. However, if someone is not in the position to donate money, the Fuller Center needs people to work other issues as well.”

To date, the Fuller Center has raised $40,000 of the $100,000 needed to modify the Himan home. During the event, Frank Lasch, chairman and founder of the nonprofit Azalea Charities, presented a $10,000 check to Koch for the effort.

In addition to carpenters, plumbers, roofers and electricians, Lang noted that people are needed to work phone trees, drive volunteers to the job site and even make coffee.
“Re-making a home to take care of Joshua is not a one-person effort, and the work is now in a critical stage. But, with a community of people doing what they can, when they can, we will get this done on time,” Lang added.

Prince William County Supervisor Marty Nohe lauded the county’s relationship with the nation’s armed forces during the ceremony.

“Prince William County has a very long tradition of a relationship with the military and our veterans,” he said. “The county is what it is today because of the United States Marine Corps’ presence here in the county and because of our relationship with the other armed services that operate a little to the north.”

Nohe added that it is “unfortunate that we have to call upon our soldiers and Marines to make the sacrifices they do, but this is a wonderful opportunity for us to say thank you to those who serve and make sacrifices for our country and community.”

Joshua Himan is expected to return home to a hero’s welcome when the addition is completed in March.

Patricia Himan said her family is eagerly counting down the days.

“I’d just like to say thank you,” she told those at the ceremony. “We’re overwhelmed. Thank you for all you’ve done.”

To learn more about the project and how you can volunteer or make a monetary donation, visit fullercenter.org/northernvirginia.

Military editor Julia LeDoux can be reached at 703-369-5718.