Staff Sgt. Matthew Lammers, a twice purple heart recipient, an Army veteran who lost his three limbs while serving in Iraq.
Matt’s wife just said, “This morning he asked to walk with me and promised to keep me safe. Ibot is changing our lives!”
Back from serving in a war zone, he broke his neck in three places and suffered quadriplegic spinal injuries. Now, this veteran shows other vets that with determination there is a real worthwhile life after catastrophic injuries. He’s paying it forward and Independence Corps was proud to provide him his Track Chair.
Lance Corporal Everett K Cole, USMC, Retired, was born in 1949 joined the Marine Corps in 1968, deploying to Vietnam in Feb 1969.
On May 22, 1969 Lcpl Cole stepped on a Land Mine severing his right leg just below the knee and shattering his left leg.
Everett married Alice in 1970 and they had 3 daughters born 1973, ‘74 and ‘78
In 1975 Everett got his Bachelor’s degree in History from Huntingdon College and began his lifetime career at VA Regional Office, Montgomery, retiring at age 55.
In 2014 Everett became a double amputee due to wounds to his left leg in Vietnam.
In 2016 Everett and Alice bought a 65-acre farm which they named “Freedom Farm”, where he hosts veterans for hunting and fishing events and in 2018 the Coles completed one Bucket List Visiting all 50 States with 6,000 miles in their MV-1.
Today, Lcpl. Everett and Alice Cole hang out on the farm (like a little boy in his sandbox and toy tractors) repairing roads, cutting trails, butt scooting nearly ¼ mile after he got the JD stuck and had forgotten his phone and gun to call for help! Life is truly an ‘Adventure’ for this ole Marine
Every MONTH since July 2017, Lcpl Everett Cole has been the longest-running donor to Independence Corps, paying it forward to benefit other soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who are in need of advanced mobility devices. Oorah Marine Lance Corporal Everett Cole.
July 2020 Everett and Alice Cole celebrated their 50th Anniversary. You can wish them Happy Anniversary, make a donation today.
Carrie’s Army career abruptly ended because of an automobile accident that left her an amputee. Carrie was medically retired in November of 1995, leaving behind a Military career she greatly enjoyed.
With a passion to continue to serve her former military family and others, and with no expectation of any personal benefit, Carrie volunteered to be a test subject helping DEKA Research develop and design the most advanced robotic human-controlled prosthetic arm in history.
To Carrie’s great surprise, Independence Corps reached out to her and told her she was our first candidate for her own Luke Arm.
Our (Marcia and Gary) beloved older son, Seth David Lawson, Born Sept 19, 1978, Died too young, April 20, 2014.Seth stood behind our mission, volunteering countless hours and he helped design all of Huey 091’s communication and marketing materials. He scripted the iBOT Restart video voiced by our dear friend Gary Sinise and filmed by Bob Vincent. We will miss you son more than you could imagine. All of the work I continue to do, I dedicate to my wife and our two loving sons, Seth and Aaron. Gary Lawson, Co-Founder.
