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Hockenberry is a triple amputee, after losing both of his legs and his left arm when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was on foot patrol in Afghanistan more than a year ago.

 

His smart home will be provided by the Building for America's Bravest foundation, which helped Hockenberry raise the money with a benefit concert in Marietta on August 18, where $200,000 was raised for the home.

 

So far, the national building group has built more than three homes and hopes to turn over three more by the end of the year, two of those homes expected to be given on Veterans Day.

 

With 19 other quadruple and triple amputees on the waiting list and many more being referred as good candidates, spokesman Chris Kuban says they hope to keep the program going for many years to come.

 

"It started actually just two years ago with Brendan Marrocco, who was the first ever quadruple amputee. Our foundation is based in Staten Island, New York and the first ever quadruple amputee was from Staten Island, New York, so they wanted to build a house for their hometown hero and they partnered with Gary Sinise to do a benefit concert and that's how it all started," said Kuban.

 

While Hockenberry is still doing rehab in Texas, the foundation is finding him a piece of land and a suitable contractor that can install the technology that will allow Hockenberry to live an independent lifestyle.

 

The smart homes have special appliances and are run by iPads that will allow things like lights to turn on and curtains to close by a touch of a button.