It takes an extraordinary breed of human being to volunteer one’s life to help another. The average person may find the courage to run toward danger for a total stranger, once in their lifetime. However, for Smithtown native, Aaron Bramblett, giving selflessly to help his fellow man is just another day in the life.
After September 11th, Bramblett signed up to serve his Country. He enlisted in December of 2002, engaging in action in Afghanistan and Iraq. In July of 2006, Bramblett broke both of his arms and was later honorably discharged in October 2007. He continues to help the Military as a Civilian contractor, repairing Apache helicopters here at home and abroad.
While managing Katie’s in Smithtown, Aaron came to the rescue of an acquaintance by way of kidney donation. The boyfriend of one of his bartenders, Rob had been asleep in his car, while waiting to drive his girlfriend, Melissa home. Melissa went to wake Rob up, when she realized something was wrong. Upon taking his friends to the emergency room, Doctors informed Bramblett that Rob was in renal failure. Without hesitation, Aaron Bramblett offered to give his left Kidney, enduring a grueling recovery, happy to help someone in a dire situation. The gentleman Bramblett saved, was told he wouldn’t be able to have children. He is now happily married to Melissa (bartender from Katie’s) and a proud new father.
In 2015, Aaron was driving to Albany to catch a flight to Abu Dhabi to repair four Apache helicopters when he nodded off, crashing into the back of another car. That car accident would lead to an MRI which led to the cause of the accident, a stroke caused by a massive brain tumor. Two weeks later, Doctors removed a handball sized mass from Aaron’s brain. One month later, a full screening revealed several other tumors in Aaron’s lungs, lymph nodes, liver, chest and in a gland behind his left lung, most likely from depleted uranium exposure while in Iraq.
With two tumors left inside him, Bramblett’s perspective is nothing short of remarkable.
“I’ve got a lot of paying it forward to do…” says the Job-like warrior. Aaron has begun building what he calls the “1942 Military truck of tomorrow” for the American Bombshells, a modern day Andrew Sisters act and non-profit group that provides free patriotic shows to wounded warriors, military hospitals and bases. He makes each tricked out retro Tourmobile, by removing the bodies of modern donor trucks, replacing the exteriors using original 1940’s harvester military trucks and finishes off with all kinds of old meets new interior accessories, like a vintage typewriter with USB conversion and a computer operated Gramophone.
“These girls travel all over the world performing, fundraising for numerous programs from facilitating service dogs for Veterans, to sending work clothes to soldiers transitioning to civilian life. They do it at their own expense. Building them transportation eases the financial burden, so they can keep up with all the good they do for some of the most deserving people in the world.” – Aaron Bramblett
Much like the biblical figure Job, Aaron has fallen on hard times to put it mildly. In addition to coping with Cancer, Bramblett has no family here in Smithtown, he lost his home to a fire, his car busted down and his GI Bill for school and living expenses is up this month. Thanks to the generosity of a good friend, Aaron is able to use Frankie M’s Auto Body in Smithtown as his Retro Tourmobile workshop. But his mission to pay it forward was about to cease. Without the funds to pay rent, drive to work or return to school, Aaron was going to have to move to Albany with his brother.
All that good Karma, Bramblett had amassed, led lifelong friend Mike Lambert, to rally the troops in a secret mission to help Aaron. Lambert set up a Go Fund Me page for Aaron to help him with expenses so he could continue to live here in Smithtown and resume his philanthropic efforts. He posted the fundraising webpage on the Smithtown Class of 1999’s facebook group and then something extraordinary happened.
“It was a testament to the kind of friend, Aaron has been to us all his life. In only three days, we had raised close to $5,000. This is a guy, who would never ask for help, but would literally give his shirt off his back to anyone that needed it. The outpouring of love and support from so many of our High School Classmates was incredible to witness. We (class of ‘99) have always been a tight knit group of friends even through all these years. Aaron’s actions and good will, resonates with so many of us… It was so gratifying to see us all come together for someone who deserves that good will tenfold.” – Mike Lambert, Smithtown Class of 1999.” – Mike Lambert, Smithtown Class of 1999
In addition to the Class of ‘99 raising close to $5,000 to help Aaron get back on his feet, John Negus a retired Cop and good friend, gave Aaron his old 95 Nissan. Without his GI Bill to help pay for school, rent and daily expenses, everyday life would prove difficult for the soldier, who is still recovering from multiple surgeries. Thanks to a group of old high school friends, who truly define the character and spirit of the best and brightest of Smithtown, this hometown hero can persevere in his path to pay it forward, making this community a little brighter every day forward.
To help Aaron pay it forward, visit his fundraising page GoFundMe.com/AaronB1999