First Iraq war surviving quadruple amputee gets new home in Staten Island

From the NY Daily News:

Welcome home, soldier.

A Staten Island veteran who lost both of his arms and legs in Iraq is coming back home - and he'll move into a brand new house courtesy of his community.

The Stephen Siller Children's Foundation and Building Homes for Heroes are teaming up to build a state-of-the-art, wheelchair accessible home near Wolf's Pond Lake for Spec. Brendan Marrocco (pictured).

"I don't think I could ever really thank them," said the humble 23-year-old vet from Huguenot.

Local businesses are donating labor and materials and hope to have the house built by Christmas.

"I'm excited, I've never had a home to myself," Marrocco said.

Just last Easter, Marrocco was hit by an explosively formed projectile, a deadly and powerful new device that can pierce armor. A fellow soldier was killed in the attack.

He's believed to be the only quadruple amputee to survive the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Marrocco has been recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and was fitted with prosthetics.

"I've really taken some great strides," he said.

Marrocco is learning to walk again on special prosthetic legs and hopes to have arm transplants. He said moving back home is a real motivating factor in his recovery.

"It gives me another goal to work toward," he said.

And the war hero won't be living alone - his fiancee, Kate, will enjoy their new home together.

"I'm so happy to find somebody to really care about me," he said. "You don't think you're ever going to find that."

The home -- which will be built by J. Smith Construction, a Staten Island firm owned by Marine Corps veteran Jerry Smith -- will be outfitted with special features to make it easier for Marrocco and his bride to start their new life together.

Marrocco has only one request: a huge garage.

The Army vet is a big fan of car racing and hopes to one day have a race car of his own.

"Who are we to say you can't do anything?" said his proud dad, Alex Marrocco. "It's been a roller coaster, but you try and focus on the positive."

Organizers still need to raise about $500,000 to get it all done.

"Brendan has given so much for his country and has sacrificed so much that it is our duty - whether civilians or veterans - to give back to him," said Frank Siller, whose firefighter son, Stephen, was killed on 9/11. "We can never give back what he has given to us."