Eli Tice, a marine who grew up in West Virginia, has called Tennessee home for the last eight years. Assigned to 1st battalion 2nd Marine Division as an infantry rifleman, in March of 2010, his unit was deployed to southern Afghanistan. On May 24, 2010, his squad was on an early morning patrol. They entered a compound that was booby-trapped with pressure plate IEDs. Eli was the second Marine to enter that compound, and he initiated the first of many IEDs. His right leg was immediately amputated, as well as his right thumb. He was evacuated back to Walter Reed in D.C. and began the long journey of recovery.
For many, those next months of surgeries and appointments can lead to giving up and losing motivation. Eli instead chose to use all his energy to acclimate to his prosthetic leg and regain a normal life. In February of 2012, Eli was officially medically retired and began his path towards becoming a private and commercial helicopter pilot and receiving his aviation mechanic certificate, followed by a move to middle Tennessee in 2016. A year later, Eli decided to utilize his G.I. benefits and attended MTSU where he graduated in 2023 with a bachelor’s in aerospace. Now, Eli begins his biggest and best journey yet as he and his fiancé, Kori, celebrated the arrival of their first child this past February.
In 2021 Tunnels to Towers (T2T) invited Eli to be a part of their smart home program. T2T is responsible for providing hundreds of mortgage-free homes to wounded veterans, first responders, and gold star families. When Eli was asked to be a part of the Tunnels to Towers smart home program, he knew he was being gifted more than just a house. Tunnels to Towers provides the gift of freedom and security. Freedom from one of life’s most significant financial burdens and security in knowing he will always have a safe home where his family can grow and prosper.
Every year in September, T2T holds its annual 5k run in New York City. It was at his first run that Eli met Jenna Allen, a Mt. Juliet local who has helped in fundraising efforts for T2T since she joined the family business in 2015. Jenna and Buddy Allen Carpet One (BACO) have proudly been raising financial support for foundations like T2T for several years.
When Jenna was tasked with organizing her first BACO Golf Tournament to help benefit Tunnels to Towers, she was unsure of how she would succeed. But the community of Mt. Juliet and the relationships that she had created helped propel the tournament to exceed all expectations in year one and the BACO Golf Tournament has been a successful story every year since. Ninety-five percent of their fundraising still comes from inside of Wilson County lines. Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of Tunnels to Towers Foundation, has even remarked on the spectacular community support we have in Wilson County. The Carpet One name has supported T2T by donating all the flooring and installations of flooring in the new builds for their recipients.
Keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities to support T2T, the BACO Golf Tournament, and other causes they support!
www.buddyallencarpetonenashville.com
www.t2t.org
[Eli] knew he was being gifted more than just a house.