Huntington War Hero Inspires Road Race

It’s the most improbable of trios: An 18-year-old high school senior reaching way beyond his comfort zone, a local transport company owner and a war hero injured in the mountains of Afghanistan.

Brought together by tragic circumstances, the three were the central figures at Sunday’s 5K run that saw an estimated 150 participants power through the streets of South Huntington.

senior John Feinberg organized the charity event to help Building Homes for Heroes, an organization started by Island Park resident Andy Pujol.

The object of it all: Help U.S. Marine Lt. , who lost both his legs above the knee in October 2010 after stepping on an IED while leading a patrol in Afghanistan.

“It’s pretty overwhelming to see an entire community come together to make sure I’m OK,” Byler said Sunday at St. Anthony’s, which buzzed with volunteers, well-wishers and runners. “And then I heard it’s an 18-year-old doing it. And I was like, ‘Are you serious?’ I was blown away by the kid’s effort.”

Feinberg saw the wounded Marine honored at an Islanders game and determined to help him in some small way. The 1st Lieutenant James Byler Charity Run was the result, an event nearly eight months in the making.

“I’m shocked he was able to pull this off,” said proud mom, MaryEllen Feinberg, of Mount Sinai. 

Huntington Manor firefighters provided the backdrop of an oversized American flag while St. Anthony’s bag pipers drummed up excitement. All the while an army of well-wishers circulated past Byler, who stood confidently on prosthetics with state-of-the-art hydraulic knees and the help of a single cane. 

“The fact I’m walking at all with the amputations being as high as they are is pretty incredible,” Byler admitted. “I’m happy I’m walking at all.” 

He started off on prosthetics little more than ankle high. 

“I could touch my foot without bending over,” Byler said. 

Over the course of a year – and with the help of intense physical therapy – Byler has graduated to knee joints, a walker, then two walking canes and now moving with prosthetic legs and – the last two months – a single cane. 

“His amputations were above the knee and that makes it harder,” said his father, Phil Byler, an attorney. “He had to work very hard. It takes a lot of core strength to do what he does. But he’s living a normal life.” 

The young Byler’s life has been centered in Bethesda, Md. these last few months while he rehabs. He lives on his own in a studio apartment near the hospital, drives a Camaro rigged to respond to his hands and landed an internship with the National Security Agency in February.

But Byler will move home to Huntington once he is discharged from military service June 29. Already armed with a degree in finance from Purdue, Byler has applied to area colleges such as NYU in hopes of attending graduate school. 

“James is such a fine example of selfless service, courage and constitution,” said Pujol, whose Building Homes for Heroes has already begun renovating the Byler family’s Huntington home. “He will be a leader I believe for the rest of his life.”

Pujol said the Long Island-based Building Homes for Heroes has already gifted 14 homes to veterans injured since 9/11 with a backlog 55 applications still pending. He hopes to gift 10-20 more homes over the next year.

In the case of Byler, the organization has green-lit a $225,000 renovation and already raised about $200,000 toward it. While it’s unclear whether the 5K run met its stated goal of raising $10,000 for Byler’s home, the gesture and awareness generated were priceless.

Matt Rebolini, a junior track athlete at who lives one block off the course, won the men’s race in 17 minutes, 11.8 seconds. Shari Klarfeld, 31, of Plainview, was the women’s winner (18:47.02). See more race results.

The race was just another step forward for Byler, who has already made so many strides in recent months.

“I started working again,” Byler said. “That’s pretty big psychologically, going back to work and functioning. Mentally, that was the biggest recent [accomplishment]. I'm getting back out and slowly becoming part of the outside world again.”