Veteran Who Shielded Soldiers From Bomb Receives New Home In Johnston County
FOUR OAKS, N.C. — A wounded U.S. Army veteran who lost both arms while protecting fellow soldiers in Iraq was welcomed into a new specially adapted home Thursday during a ceremony hosted by the Gary Sinise Foundation.
Friends, family, community members and local first responders gathered in Four Oaks as U.S. Army Sgt. (Ret.) Mary Dague received the keys to her newly constructed, mortgage-free smart home.
The 2,900-square-foot residence was built through the Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) program, which provides specially adapted homes to severely wounded veterans.
During the ceremony, a student from South Johnston High School sang the National Anthem while members of the school’s ROTC program and local law enforcement attended to show their support.
The home was designed to help restore independence for Dague, who was severely injured while serving as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician in Iraq.
On Nov. 4, 2007, Dague was attempting to disarm an improvised explosive device when it detonated. In a split-second decision, she shielded fellow soldiers by hugging the device, an act that saved lives but cost her both arms.
The explosion also ruptured her eardrums and left her with shrapnel injuries to her face. She was airlifted from the scene within 15 minutes and began what would become a long and difficult recovery.
In the years that followed, Dague endured numerous surgeries and faced significant physical and emotional challenges. She also battled breast cancer during her recovery.
Despite those hardships, she remained determined to rebuild her life.
Eventually, she returned to Washington state to remain close to her military unit, where she met and later married her husband, James, who also served as an EOD technician.
The couple later moved to Johnston County and settled in Four Oaks.
Their new home — a three-bedroom, two-bath residence with an attached garage, covered porches and smart home technology — was designed with accessibility features intended to ease daily challenges and improve independence.
“I don’t feel deserving,” Dague said of the support and generosity shown to her.
When asked whether she would change anything about the day she was injured in 2007, she answered simply: “Would I change anything? No.”
The Gary Sinise Foundation, founded by actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise, has built dozens of specially adapted homes for severely wounded veterans across the country.
The organization’s R.I.S.E. program focuses on restoring independence and improving quality of life for service members who suffered life-changing injuries in the line of duty.
Thursday’s ceremony marked the beginning of a new chapter for Dague and her family — one supported by a grateful community honoring her sacrifice and service.
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15 Comments
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Thank – you for your service! You are so deserving of this new home. I hope that you and your husband will enjoy it. You deserve everything “good” this world has to offer. Once again, thank- you for your service.
Thank you for your heroic service. You deserve this, and so much more.
That is so awesome! Thank you for your and your husband’s service. I hope you enjoy your new home! You deserve it!! God Bless our Veterans!!!!!!
What a Beautiful home and a VERY DESERVING lady. Thank you SOOOOOO much for your service.
Enjoy your new home.
Thank you for your heroic sacrifice and thank you to the foundation that didn’t let it go unnoticed. Bless you and welcome to the neighborhood!
Where are our local st reps at for 5 months worried us to death but all 3 of them or our county commissioners can’t show up for this honor it really blows my mind they are not in session the budget still not passed so why not be here for this honar
Thank You! Thank you, thank you!! We in Four Oaks support our military and WE SUPPORT YOU. NEVER doubt that you so much deserve this token of our appreciation for you, your husband and your service! May God richly bless you both.
Mary and James, thank you for your service and sacrifice to our great country!! Your beautiful home is a well-deserved blessing, and may God’s grace and peace continue to be with you until His return.
Thanks to the Gary Sinise Foundation for all they do for our veterans.
Thank you for sharing this story JOCO Report, It’s important to know what Dague did for us. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. Thank you to the Gary Sinise Foundation for honoring this amazing person with this home.
Amen
This is exactly how we should be using our tax dollars. I understand this is an organization that specializes in this type of work for wounded veterans, first responders and their families. Maybe the local state and federal government can take notes.
Thank you and may God bless you forever!!
So blessed to have you in our area. Your home is lovely and less than you have earned with your courage and loss. May your new home be filled with laughter, love and new and beautiful memories.
God bless you and all the soldiers who put their lives on the line to keep us safe every day. You really are the best of our country!