Hero Stories |
National Guard- San Diego, CA (originally from Louisiana)
Sgt. Ford was severely injured in 2004 when her she was forced to jump from her burning vehicle during an IED explosion. She landed on her weapon, suffering internal injuries, resulting in 12 surgeries and lots of rehab over the last 4 years. When Tracey returned from war not only was her body broken, so was her home. Since then she has struggled to put her life back together, and raise her two children, one of whom has a heart condition. Several people from Tracey’s extended family, suffered tremendous losses due to hurricane Katrina, so on top of caring for her own two children, Tracey has taken in 2 of her nieces. She is living in military housing, but finances are very tight. |
Air Force: Near Spokane, Washington (originally from Alaska)
James is a proud husband and father (2 daughters ages 4, 6). He was hurt in Iraq. He fell 30 feet, down four and a half stories. During his fall, he smacked his face on a ledge and then he landed at the bottom with the full impact on his legs and arms. He broke his arms and legs badly; his left femur came out of his skin. Due to the fall he also had several fractures in his hips. His face and jaw now contain 12 plates. He has a rod in his femur and plates in my arms and ankles. In addition to these injuries, James has TBI, vertigo and eye trouble. Although he can’t work, he teaches Christian Boy Scouts and Sunday School to keep his mind off of himself.
The family rents a farmhouse, with some chickens and a calf that they use to help save money on groceries. |
Army: Connecticut
Chris served in the Army from 2004 - 2008. He was medically discharged due to a roadside bomb in Ramadi, Iraq that shattered both of his legs. He also had to have his right arm amputated below the elbow, he has lost vision in his right eye, and he suffers from a TBI. He currently lives with his wife and baby but needed home modifications to accommodate his disabilities. |
Army: San Antonio, Texas (originally from Chicago)
Victor's ankle was shattered when his dismounted patrol was ambushed in Iraq as he protected his platoon's team leader. Victor and his wife and newborn, just moved into unfurnished quarters at the Warrior Transition Unit at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. He had very few possessions when enlisting. With the loss of the combat pay, Victor cannot afford even the most basic home furnishings. He is still receiving a paycheck, but most of it is spent supporting his 3 children in Chicago. He and his new wife just welcomed a baby girl, Cecilia. |
Army: Phoenix, AZ
Tim Hernandez, was a Cavalry Scout, A Section Sgt. in charge of a small squad that conducted reconnaissance and search-and-destroy operations in Iraq. He was first wounded in the leg by an IED. The fragments were removed and within weeks he went back to fighting, bandages and all.
The second time, he was wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). A few of the guys in his squad were in trouble, held back by enemy fire, when he decided to have his unit go back and get them. Hernandez was hit in the face, arm, back and hip. He sustained nerve damage and has been through several surgeries. He was medically discharged ending his 7 year career with the military.
In addition to the 3 Purple Hearts, Hernandez was awarded the Bronze Star of Valor. He is working, receiving care from the VA Medical Center, and raising a family, which includes his 4 children and a child he adopted when his mother died. Last year he had to take in his brother’s children due to a family emergency. He had just come out of that when his wife’s sister died, leaving the care of her 3 children in his hands. |
Marine: Georgia
Sean served 8 years as a marine then joined the Guard after 911. He was nearly killed in Iraq as a result of friendly fire. It was nighttime just outside of Bagdad, Sean’s vehicle and another behind him saw a convey approaching. They slowed down and sent signals that they weren’t the enemy, but the other convoy was confused so they fired machine guns which ripped through the front of Sean’s vehicle. He went through numerous surgeries where they tried to save the leg. Although it wasn’t amputated, Sean’s leg is permanently locked. Sean looked up the soldier responsible for the friendly fire, through his research he found that the soldier had since left the military and was having mental problems and PTSD. Sean called him and said, you might be dealing with a lot, but I want you to know, you needn’t have this on your conscience, I’m fine. |
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