Army Spc. Marrocco When Howell resident Judi Giordano heard about a co-worker’s family tragedy, she thought about what she could do to help.

The object of her attention was Brendan Marrocco, 24, of Staten Island, N.Y., a U.S. Army soldier who was serving in Iraq onApril 12, 2009, when the armored vehicle he was driving was hit by an explosive fired projectile.

The armor-piercing projectile came through the middle of the driver’s-side door where Marrocco was sitting. He sustained severe, permanent and lifechanging injuries, Giordano said.

Marrocco had both of his arms and legs amputated, he sustained a severed left carotid artery, a broken nose, a broken left eye socket and broken facial bones, the loss of eight teeth, shrapnel to his left eye and face, severe lacerations to his face, burns to his neck and face, and a pierced left eardrum.

He is the first quadruple amputee of the Iraq War to survive.

Giordano works with Brendan’s father, Alex, in Woodbridge. She explained that Building Homes for Heroes and the Stephen Siller Children’s Foundation have teamed up and are working to build a home for Brendan on Staten Island.

She said Alex Marrocco mentioned that even with the assistance of those two foundations, his family will still have to come up with a significant amount of money to build the special home for Brendan.

“As soon as I heard about what happened to Brendan, I wanted to do something. I just wasn’t sure what it was going to be,” Giordano said. “Brendan is an amazing guy. He is determined to not let this [his injuries] get the best of him.” Giordano started planning an event that would help support the effort to build a home for Brendan. The Brendan Marrocco Road to Recovery Golf and Tennis Classic will be held on May 23 at the Navesink Golf and Country Club, Middletown.

Marrocco is currently at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he is recovering from his injuries. He is receiving physical and occupational therapy, Giordano said.

“Brendan has such a great attitude. People wish they could have his attitude,” Giordano said. “He doesn’t get discouraged.”

She said the young man is on the waiting list at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to have two arm transplants.

“He can conquer all,” she said. “He is such an encouragement to so many people.”

Marrocco’s family makes up his support team, especially his brother, Michael, 26. “Michael gave up a good job so that he could be by his brother’s side and take care of him at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He has become Brendan’s 24-hour caretaker,” Giordano said.

According to Brendan’s blog (http://brendanmarrocco. wordpress.com/), the house that will be built for him on Staten Island will have two stories, three bedrooms and an elevator. The 3,000-square-foot home will have covered porches and wheelchair-access ramps. The house will feature wide hallways and doors, automatic door openers, a security system and a good deal of automation.

Giordano said everyone is welcome to attend the May 23 event at the Navesink Golf and Country Club, regardless of whether they golf or play tennis. Attendees can participate in the lunch or dinner, and partake in the silent auction, live auction or simply enjoy the entertainment. She is currently seeking donations and sponsors for the event. Proceeds will assist Marrocco and help to offset the maintenance costs for living in a home that will be equipped to accommodate his needs.

The deadline for sponsorships and auction items is

April 30. Donations of any kind are welcome at any time. Brendan Giordano said she is asking people to assist a soldier who “has given his arms and legs for our country, for you and me.”

For more information about sponsoring the May 23 event or about making a donation, contact Judi Giordano by email at Judi.Giordano@gmail.com or at 732-740- 0734.