Nov. 4, 2025 – Wounded Warriors Family Support and Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ) presented retired U.S. Marines veteran Josh Lopez of Lompoc, California, with a specially-modified 2025 Chevrolet Suburban as part of the WWFS Mobility is Freedom program. The presentation occurred Tuesday at The Embassy Suites by Hilton The Woodlands as the nation prepares to honor its military veterans on Nov. 11.
Wounded Warriors Family Support teamed with Assurant to provide Lopez with a new vehicle in honor of his military service and to recognize the commitment and sacrifices of all veterans. Wounded Warriors Family Support launched Mobility is Freedom in 2015 to provide modified vehicles for combat-wounded veterans.
“The Mobility is Freedom program provides a combat-wounded veteran with the independence he or she needs to help them live a normal life,” Wounded Warriors Family Support CEO and President Kate McCauley said. “We could not provide Josh with a modified-specific vehicle without Assurant’s dedication and support.”
“The Mobility is Freedom program provides a combat-wounded veteran with the independence he or she needs to help them live a normal life,” Wounded Warriors Family Support CEO and President Kate McCauley said. “We could not provide Josh with a modified-specific vehicle without Assurant’s dedication and support.”
Assurant has partnered with Wounded Warriors Family Support since 2018. This is the fifth mobility-modified vehicle presented to a veteran during the collaboration.
“Supporting our veterans is a cornerstone of our community involvement at Assurant,” Assurant President and CEO Keith Demmings said. “In partnership with Wounded Warriors Family Support, we honor Josh’s service and sacrifice and hope this new vehicle will provide him with well-deserved mobility and independence.”
Just six weeks into his Afghanistan deployment on April 2, 2012, Cpl. Lopez cleared a house with fellow Marines when he stepped on an improvised explosive device while under enemy fire. The explosion hurled Lopez 20 feet into the air, which shattered his pelvis and broke his back.
In the chaotic moments that followed, five fellow Marines dragged Lopez from the “kill zone.” They rushed him to a forward operating base for emergency medical treatment. Later, Lopez learned he flatlined for 4 minutes and 20 seconds in the blast’s immediate aftermath. A doctor told Lopez he was on the verge of being declared dead when he miraculously responded to a final revival attempt.
“All I could think of was my son,” Lopez said as he reflected on that life-altering day when his son Joshua Lopez Jr. was only two weeks old.
Lopez lost his right leg below the knee and underwent a grueling recovery process. Lopez endured 40 surgeries, countless skin grafts and hours of intense rehabilitation for over 30 months. During his recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, Lopez was promoted to sergeant – a testament to his resilience and dedication.
“Josh’s journey is a powerful story of survival, sacrifice and strength in the face of unimaginable adversity,” McCauley said. “We are proud and honored to provide this vehicle to Josh in an effort to enhance his quality of life with family members.”
About Wounded Warriors Family Support
Wounded Warriors Family Support is an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured, or killed during combat operations. This organization is run by combat veterans for combat veterans. Rated a four-star nonprofit by Charity Navigator, Wounded Warriors Family Support aids veterans and their families in healing the wounds that medicine cannot. For more information about Wounded Warriors Family Support, visit wwfs.org.
About Assurant
Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ) is a leading global business services company that supports, protects and connects major consumer purchases. A Fortune 500 company with a presence in 21 countries, Assurant supports the advancement of the connected world by partnering with the world’s leading brands to develop innovative solutions and to deliver an enhanced customer experience through mobile device solutions, extended service contracts, vehicle protection services, renters insurance, lender-placed insurance products and other specialty products. Learn more at assurant.com.
