Congressman Sherman Welcomes "Wounded Warrior" Daisy Fuentes
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) welcomed "Wounded Warrior" Daisy Fuentes on her first visit to Washington, DC and to his employ. Today, Fuentes returned to California to serve in Sherman’s San Fernando Valley office as part of the congressionally-funded Wounded Warrior Project.
Fuentes became a "Wounded Warrior" after developing a serious eye condition as a result of her deployment to Iraq. Without corrective surgery Fuentes risks losing her eye sight entirely.
The Wounded Warrior Project, seeks to honor and empower wounded warriors by raising awareness and enlisting the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women. The Wounded Warrior Project helps severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and provides unique, direct programs and services to meet these injured service members’ needs.
Fuentes achieved the rank of Corporal during her enlistment in the United States Marine Corps from March of 2005 through July of 2009. Fuentes worked as a Field Wireman in Ramadi, Iraq, operating and repairing digital and analog communication systems, and as an Administrative Clerk with technical supervisory duties, training, evaluating, and counseling personnel, along with other administrative duties. A native of El Salvador and current resident of Burbank, Fuentes is fluent in Spanish. She has one daughter, 18 month old Natalia, and will be helping Congressman Sherman’s constituents to cut through the red tape of federal bureaucracy.
"My staff and I welcome Daisy to our office with wide open arms and enormous gratitude for her service to our country," said Sherman. "I am pleased that I can do a small part to return an injured service member to civilian life and that Daisy is continuing to serve our country by helping people in the San Fernando Valley. I expect that Daisy’s administrative expertise and military experience will be particularly useful to the veterans who contact my office."
"I am excited by this opportunity and I appreciate what the Wounded Warrior Project is doing for people like me," said Fuentes. "I am excited by the challenge, and I am eager to help others during these challenging times, especially fellow veterans."
Fuentes is a recipient of the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Prior to joining the United States Marine Corps, Fuentes attended Palomar College in San Marcos, California.
The 2009 Appropriations Supplemental, which Congress passed on Thursday, May 14, 2009, addressed serious concerns over funding for healthcare for our service members and veterans. The legislation included $488 million for wounded warrior complexes to help soldiers wounded in combat recover and remain on active duty or transition to civilian life and support families through this process. The funds will allow for the construction of seven new complexes, bringing the total around the country to 16.
Today, there are about 2.3 million men and women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, active and reserve. Since 2003, more than 5,000 of them have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan and over 35,000 have been wounded.
A picture of Congressman Sherman and Daisy Fuentes in the Congressman’s Washington DC office can be found by clicking here.