Newt’s World – Episode 936: Homes for Our Troops

Date: January 17, 2026
Host: Newt Gingrich
Guests: Brigadier General (Ret.) Tom Landroemeyer (President & CEO, Homes for Our Troops) and veteran Yancy Baer

Overview

In this episode, Newt Gingrich spotlights Homes for Our Troops (HFOT), a nonprofit that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes to severely injured post-9/11 veterans. Gingrich's conversation with HFOT President & CEO Tom Landroemeyer and recipient Yancy Baer explores the organization's mission, the life-changing impact of accessible housing for veterans, personal journeys of service and injury, and the power of community support in rebuilding lives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mission & Model of Homes for Our Troops

• Purpose of HFOT: Builds and donates customized homes for post-9/11 veterans with life-altering injuries, supporting them in reclaiming independence and improving quality of life (00:09–02:10).
• Unique Approach: HFOT stays connected with each veteran after move-in, gathering feedback on 40+ special adaptations for continual improvement and providing ongoing support for the veteran and family (02:20–03:40).
• Scope: Built in 46 states; approaching their 500th home as of the episode (02:40).
• Legacy & Placement: Veterans select the community where they wish to live, fostering long-term stability and connections (03:45–04:30).
• Core Philosophy: “Our mission isn't charity, it really is the duty of our country to take care of these veterans and their families.” – Brig. Gen. Tom Landroemeyer (04:35).

Quote:

“Every single one of these post-9/11 veterans volunteered to serve... When it was their time, they deployed with their units, they went down range. In the blink of an eye, their lives and families' lives changed forever. Our organization...helps repay a very small portion of a debt that will never be completely repaid.”
— Tom Landroemeyer (04:11)

2. Leadership Journey: Tom Landroemeyer

• Military Service: 33-year Army career, focused post-retirement on supporting military families and veterans (05:44–07:00).
• Path to HFOT: Inspired to apply after watching powerful testimonials from HFOT beneficiaries; the emotional impact convinced both him and his wife (06:10–07:38).

Quote:

“She watched one of the videos and when it got done, she looked over at me and said, ‘Play another one.’ I said, exactly. That's exactly it… If you don't compete for this position, you're a fool.”
— Tom Landroemeyer (06:37)

3. Yancy Baer: Personal Story of Service and Injury

• Entry to Military: Joined as an escape from a small-town path, motivated by education and opportunity (08:00–08:44).
• Deployments: Served four times in combat zones, including both Iraq and Afghanistan; later with the 10th Special Forces Group (09:03–09:29).
• Injury & Recovery: Suffered injury during a hard landing in Iraq; three surgeries led to discovery of aggressive cancer, resulting in below-the-knee amputation (09:46–11:18).
• Rehabilitation: Ten months to recovery; returned to active duty, resumed high-level physical activities including airborne operations (12:28–13:00).
• Attitude:
  • “I'm amazingly hard-headed, sir.” (13:04)
  • “I joke a lot and say, hey, I can't stub a toe now and I can't twist an ankle anymore, so I've got it good.” (10:39)

4. Impact of Non-Adaptive Homes & Value of HFOT Adaptations

• Challenges: Ordinary homes posed hidden hazards—Yancy recounts a serious fall on the stairs as a catalyst for understanding HFOT’s mission (14:05–15:25).
• Customization:
  • Doors that open/close automatically (17:24)
  • Pull-down cabinets
  • Roll-under counters and stoves
  • Pot filler at the stove (an innovation from veteran feedback)
  • Accessible bathroom/shower spaces, ranch-style no-step layout
• Longevity Consideration: Homes built to sustain veterans' needs for decades as they age (15:25–16:10).

Quote:

“Sometimes I think getting up and taking a shower, and it's kind of a weird thing to say, but going into my bathroom every morning is probably to this day what I still wake up and be like, this is a dream. Who's going to pinch me, and this is all going to go away?”
— Yancy Baer (17:24)

5. The Home Dedication: Community & Belonging

• Ceremony: The awarding of a HFOT home is deeply emotional and inclusive: police, fire department, local businesses, students, and neighbors come together for a group welcome (19:58–21:29).
• Connection: Veterans enter their new homes already knowing and feeling supported by their neighbors and community.

Quote:

“It's this huge community group hug and welcoming. Before you even step foot in your home, you already feel like you're part of it... It's not just emotional for the Warrior, it's emotional for the community, for everybody.”
— Yancy Baer (21:00)

6. Beyond Building: Rebuilding Lives

• Ongoing Support:
  • Three years of financial planning and home ownership education provided (25:26–26:00).
  • Dedicated “Veteran Support” group checks in regularly (26:00).
  • Homes foster independence; after move-in, veterans’ community participation rises from 20% to 81% (29:10).
• Rehabilitation: Accessible homes mean veterans can safely relax and heal, even during setbacks with their prosthetics (27:00–27:45).

Quote:

“Building homes is that physical thing... but rebuilding lives is the most important. It's what the homes enable these veterans to do that drives us every single day...”
— Tom Landroemeyer (25:55)

7. Community Reaction and Engagement

• Universal Support: Across the country, communities eagerly support veteran neighbors; the mission transcends politics and unites people (28:18–29:00).

Quote:

“I have yet to run into a community that wasn't supportive of military veterans... On supporting our veterans, that's where I see everybody kind of lined up and saluting the flag.”
— Tom Landroemeyer (28:30)

8. Paying It Forward: Yancy’s Continued Service

• Wounded Warrior Outdoors: Yancy now works to reconnect wounded veterans with nature and each other through outdoor retreats and activities, helping overcome isolation (29:40–31:03).

Quote:

“Never met a community that wasn’t just arms outreached and bringing us in... That’s our mission, to get these men and women back out into the sunlight, get them back outdoors and get them around other fellow warriors.”
— Yancy Baer (30:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:11 | Landroemeyer | “Our organization...helps repay a very small portion of a debt that will never be completely repaid.” | | 13:04 | Baer | “I'm amazingly hard-headed, sir.” | | 17:24 | Baer | “Going into my bathroom every morning is probably to this day what I still wake up and be like, this is a dream. Who's going to pinch me, and this is all going to go away?” | | 21:00 | Baer | “It's this huge community group hug and welcoming. Before you even step foot in your home, you already feel like you're part of it...” | | 25:55 | Landroemeyer | “Rebuilding lives is the most important aspect of what we do. It's what the homes enable these veterans to do that drives us every single day.” | | 28:30 | Landroemeyer | “On supporting our veterans, that's where I see everybody kind of lined up and saluting the flag.” | | 30:10 | Baer | “That’s our mission, to get these men and women back out into the sunlight, get them back outdoors and get them around other fellow warriors.” |

Important Segments & Timestamps

• 00:09–02:10 — Introduction to HFOT’s mission and impact
• 02:20–05:34 — Unique aspects and application process
• 05:44–07:38 — Landroemeyer’s personal journey to HFOT
• 08:00–13:00 — Yancy Baer’s motivations, deployments, and injury story
• 14:05–16:10 — Daily challenges in non-adapted home; discovering HFOT’s importance
• 17:24–19:50 — Specific home adaptions and their significance
• 19:58–21:29 — Emotional impact and community involvement in home receptions
• 25:26–26:00 — HFOT’s extended support beyond home building
• 28:30–29:31 — Community response to veteran home builds
• 29:40–31:03 — Yancy’s current nonprofit work

Tone and Takeaways

The conversation is earnest, grateful, and driven by a profound respect for veterans and their families. Both guests blend humility with pride, emphasizing service, perseverance, and the role of community. HFOT presents not just as a charity, but as an example of national responsibility and gratitude.

Further Info

• Website: hfotusa.org
• Get Involved: Support or volunteer to help Homes for Our Troops continue rebuilding veterans’ lives.