A GOVX EXCLUSIVE
Retired USMC Cpl. and Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E. Recipient Josue Barron on Service, Resiliency, and Hope
For combat veterans who return home forever changed, the Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. program offers more than just a 100% mortgage-free home, it offers hope. Each specially adapted smart home is crafted with deep compassion and attention to detail, giving severely wounded service members and first responders, as well as their families, what they need to move forward with dignity and independence. From automated doors to accessible kitchens and bathrooms, every feature is safely modified to meet the unique needs of the recipient.
GOVX recently had the honor of catching up with retired U.S. Marine Corps Corporal and R.I.S.E. recipient Josue Barron. A Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon honoree, Cpl. Barron shared his powerful story, his time in service, and what his new home means to him.
GOVX
Josue, thanks for taking the time to join us today and speak about the R.I.S.E. program and your journey. When looking back at your career, how did your upbringing shape your path toward joining the Marine Corps?
Josue Barron
Absolutely, thanks for having me. Growing up in Los Angeles roughened me up in such a way that it readied me for life after my injury. As a kid, I was exposed to gangs, and I had to discipline myself to escape that environment. The distractions I dealt with, helped me be a better Marine, and in turn a better man post-injury. My early years could have destroyed me, but it made me who I am.
------
GOVX
Was there a moment early on where you knew that you wanted to serve your country?
Josue Barron
To be honest, it was more a gradual thing. I saw an opportunity to leave my situation, and the Marines were my ticket out. That didn’t happen until my senior year of high school, and it was kind of a last-minute choice and a response to most of my friends getting into gangs. Where I’m from, once you commit to that life, you don’t get out of it. From my first day in the Marines, I knew this was where I needed to be.
GOVX
Can you tell us about the incident that caused your injuries?
Josue Barron
I was injured on October 21st, 2010, during my second deployment while on foot patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan. My engineer and I were getting confirmation of insurgents in the area. We knew they had been digging holes at night from our snipers. They cancelled our night patrols as a result, since there were so many of them.
Like I said, since they were digging at night, we knew they were up to no good. One of our snipers was able to take down an insurgent overnight, potentially as they were putting in an IED. Our mission was to head out the following morning to recover the device, take pictures, collect evidence, and report back on the situation.
The area was full of IEDs, as well as old mines that were still active. So, my engineer and I were in the process of heading back to our patrol base when he stepped on one of the landmines and the explosion took out both his legs and fingers. For me, it hit me on my side, taking my left leg and sending shrapnel flying that damaged my eyes.
GOVX
As you returned home and started the recovery process, what were some of the hurdles that you faced?
Josue Barron
First and foremost, I didn’t want to fall under the stigma people think of when they look at those injured in service. I didn’t want to be looked down on as disabled or PTSD-stricken, I didn’t want to be considered someone who was just suffering. I hated the idea of that.
It took me a few months to figure out that this was my new normal -- and there was nothing I could do about it. My leg wasn’t going to grow back, my left eye wasn’t going to fix itself. I realized I need to live with it and make it a part of my life. I didn’t want to be identified as just a disabled guy and I didn’t want people to thank me for my service, because to me, the military is just a part of my life, and my life was going to continue. I needed to find a new path and make something bigger out of myself.
I knew there was a lot more out there, and that’s what I wanted in life.
GOVX
What role has your family played in supporting your recovery?
Josue Barron
Before I left for Afghanistan in 2010, I had met my wife a year earlier and we got married in the time in between. I was injured just a few months after our wedding. I took her entering my life so soon before my second deployment as a sign that I needed somebody, because something was going to happen. It was almost like a premonition.
She’s been with me ever since. If I didn’t have her, I could have made a lot of bad choices after I got injured. Having her next to me to check me when I need to be checked and pick me up when I’ve been low has been everything. I don’t know where I would be without her and the support of my family.
GOVX
Circling back to your time serving, how did your military training prepare you to face adversity outside of combat?
Josue Barron
I will say that my military experience made a big impact on me just from the perspective that every day is different, right? Each day we push our bodies to the limit, just in our own ways. In the Marines, that might look like hiking with 80 pounds strapped to your back for 25+ miles, and you have no choice but to finish.
You just got to do it, you know? Around you guys are getting dehydrated, and you’re seeing them fall out, but you’ve got to get it done. Today, I race and train for hand cycling and Paralympian events and I carry the same mindset. I truly feel like I can push through when things get tough, even when they get painful. That’s what the military has instilled in me, that’s how I know I have more in that tank.
GOVX
When did you first hear about the Gary Sinise Foundation, and specifically the R.I.S.E. program?
Josue Barron
I first became aware of the foundation and their mission around 2017. I had a couple of friends from the military who had become R.I.S.E. recipients and received their homes. One day my case manager reached out to let me know that the foundation was putting on a concert at the VA in Los Angeles and had extended an invitation to me.
At the concert, I met one of the representatives who was collecting R.I.S.E. applications, he answered a few questions and I figured I had nothing to lose, so I applied right then and there.
I made it to the next round of the application process and then eventually, I was chosen. They worked with me every step of the way, and it was totally worth it. It changed my life.
GOVX
How has your new home improved your day-to-day life?
Josue Barron
So I came from a two-story home, right? I had one wheelchair upstairs and another downstairs, and I had to constantly hop from chair to chair. That was a daily battle, and man, this was not normal. Now that I’m in a 1-story home, it’s made moving around much easier. When my home was being built, I was able to provide input that went into the design. I sat down with them, and they designed everything around my specific disability.
GOVX
How did you feel when you found you were going to be R.I.S.E. recipient?
Josue Barron
I remember I got a phone call from Gary Sinise himself. I was having a bad day, and just lying on the carpet in the living room staring at the ceiling. When Mr. Sinise called, I knew immediately my life was about to change for the better. It was an unbelievable and unforgettable moment.
GOVX
How has your family adapted to your new home?
Josue Barron
They love it. Just having all this space with a big open floor. They truly built a home that can accommodate the size of my family, it’s about two and half acres, and I’ve had room to add a pool. It’s safe, I can watch my kids ride bikes without any traffic outside, ultimately we can chill here and truly enjoy it.
GOVX
What advice would you give to other service members facing a life-altering injury?
Josue Barron
I would remind them that life goes on. You have the power to find your path and figure out a new way to find happiness with what you’ve got, and the mindset you have. Stay away from what drains you and stresses you out.
GOVX
Josue, thanks again for speaking with GOVX. Last question, When you think about your future, what gives you the most hope?
Josue Barron
Looking back at my life, my mom had nothing. I’ve had to figure it out all on my own. Today, as a dad, I want to make sure my kids are set-up for success. At the end of the day, that’s what gives me hope for tomorrow.
