Caleb Brewer

Retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Caleb Brewer grew up the oldest of three brothers, one of whom passed away in 2010. Caleb was determined to join the armed forces while in high school and finally enlisted in 2005 as an Intelligence Analyst in the Army Reserves.

After a deployment to Iraq in 2008, Caleb was selected to attend Special Forces training to earn his Green Beret. After graduating the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2012 he had some of the most impactful moments in his life training and deploying around the world.

On December 4, 2015 (his 31st birthday), while deployed to Afghanistan, Caleb and his team were conducting a large-scale clearing operation focused on the Sangin District in Helmand Province. Caleb and his team located a Taliban improvised explosive device (IED) factory and began clearing the compound. As they did so, a pressure plate IED detonated beneath Caleb. Seeing his own right leg missing, Caleb immediately applied a tourniquet to himself. His teammates rushed to his aid and took him to safety. Caleb suffered bilateral leg amputations and severe infections, blood clots, and blood loss from the blast. Yet just three months later, at Brooke Army Medical Center, Caleb learned to walk on a single prosthetic leg. Achieving goals that were set early on, Caleb relearned to surf, shoot, run, and rock climb with his new prosthetic legs. A positive support network, excellent medical care and hard work helped Caleb complete events such as the Army 10 Miler run and the Bataan Memorial Death March.

The Gary Sinise Foundation was honored to provide a specially adapted smart home for Caleb. He continues to push himself, has started a small business, and is always on the lookout for new adventures.