U.S. Arm Staff Sgt. Trevor Brunell is this year's Wounded Warrior Week recipient.
LONGPORT - American Legion Post #469 of Longport is welcoming its 11th Wounded Warrior to the Jersey shore for a one week all expense paid vacation.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Trevor Brunell and his wife Kara will be arriving in Longport from their home in Columbus, Georgia Tuesday, Sept. 20. Brunell was medically discharged from the Army on Aug. 2 due to injuries sustained in 2016 while serving in Afghanistan.
Because wounded troops are sent to a hospital after injury, they miss the joyful festivities of most military homecomings. Each year, the Legion provides a Wounded Warrior with the welcome home they may have missed after becoming injured in war.
To provide SSG Brunell the homecoming he never received, the Legion will surprise him and his wife with a welcome home parade, dinners, fishing and boating outings and other Jersey shore experiences.
Brunell was a machine gunner during his first deployment to Afghanistan. He was injured July 25, 2016, as he was leading a machine gun team in a mission against ISIS. His company was ambushed by roughly 1,000 ISIS fighters, during which he took a machine gun round to his knee. It took five hours for the wounded to be evacuated. During that time, Brunell lost consciousness while most of his exposed leg burned down to the bone from the heat and sun. By the time he was airlifted out of the fight, his leg had been too damaged to function.
He underwent 33 surgeries and spent six months in bed, and because his knee no longer functioned, he was fitted with a prosthetic that allowed him to run again after a few months of training.
Trevor and Kara Brunell
He redeployed in mid-2017 to Jordan, where he trained Jordanian Rangers in the fight against ISIS. After returning home, he completed Expert Infantry Badge Course, and returned to Afghanistan in the winter of 2017-2018.
During his final deployment, while infiltrating an ISIS village, Brunell reinjured multiple parts of his damaged knee. He finished his mission and returned home a few weeks later and was promoted to staff sergeant.
While he was healing, he was assigned to Walter Reed Hospital as 75th Ranger Regiment liaison, facilitating care for members of his unit and their families. In 2020, he endured 10 more surgeries all the while hoping to return to his company as a weapons squad leader or platoon sergeant.
Although his infantry career was brought to a close, he returned to Fort Benning to work in the Regimental Headquarters.
While he was recuperating at Water Reed, he met Kara, a registered nurse whom he married in February 2021.
Brunell was medically retired on Aug. 2. He is now working at a veteran-owned bank in New York City as a registered stock broker and investment banker and enjoys working remotely. Kara is making the move to the private sector, which will allow them to spend more time together.
On the day of their arrival, Tuesday, Sept. 20, the couple will be taken to Ventnor Plaza shopping center where a motorcade will be awaiting them. They will ride in an open convertible, escorted by multiple police and fire engines from Downbeach towns, along with the American Legion Riders on their Harley motorcycles.
The Wounded Warrior couple will depart Ventnor Plaza at 5:30 p.m., travel down Dorset Avenue and then along Atlantic Avenue to Longport where they will stay for the week.
Downbeach residents are encouraged to line the parade route to wave and cheer these special visitors.
"Bystanders will only have a brief moment to see the couple as they slowly pass, but the images of caring support from fellow Americans will provide them with meaningful memories that will last a lifetime," American Legion Post #469 Commander Larry Pacentrilli said in a release.
Those lining the parade route are encouraged to wave the American flag and display homemade signs showing their appreciation for America's military heroes.
Updates will be provided if the weather is questionable. For information, contact Pacentrilli at 609-513-3578 or [email protected].
U.S. Army SSG Trevor Brunell and his wife Kara.
