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Volunteers coming together to help Afghanistan war veteran, family

Jason Smith, right, and National Guard Sgt. Andy Calfee walk through the parking lot before a motorcycle parade of veterans and supporters on April 24, 2015, at Camp Jordan in East Ridge, Tenn. Smith lost both of his legs in an IED explosion while serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan in 2012. Local volunteers will be building Smith and his wife a new home next week.
Jason Smith, right, and National Guard Sgt. Andy Calfee walk through the parking lot before a motorcycle parade of veterans and supporters on April 24, 2015, at Camp Jordan in East Ridge, Tenn. Smith lost both of his legs in an IED explosion while serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan in 2012. Local volunteers will be building Smith and his wife a new home next week.

By Will Healey 6 min read

How to help:

The build is from today through May 8. General as well as skilled labor volunteers can help. Shifts are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m and 3-11 p.m. Register to volunteer, sponsor or donate at steps2hope.com/get-involved. Snack items (granola bars, cookies) and bottled water can be dropped off at the job site.

RINGGOLD, Ga. – Jason Smith doesn’t like the spotlight. In fact, if the 29-year-old war veteran had his way, he’d fade into the background.

He doesn’t talk much about his service or his sacrifice, and when he does, he refers to his time as an infantryman in the U.S. Army as “his job” and downplays the fact that he was blown apart by an IED in southern Afghanistan.

“People say, ‘You’re a hero,'” Smith said. “I’m not. I just had a bad day at work.”

For most people, a bad day at work means tolerating an annoying co-worker or feeling undervalued by your superiors. Smith’s bad day – July 25, 2012 – cost him both of his legs, two knuckles and the use of most of his right hand.