Operation Homefront added us to their National Highlights and to the recipients of the houses!
Below is the article, but make sure to check out their actual website on this article!
To view Operation Homefront's site, please click HERE
And of course, if you are in a position to give back, there are two ways you can do so:
1 - Donate financially directly to OHF on their website, by clicking HERE
And/Or
2 - Check out my Facebook Event page I am running indefinitely by clicking HERE and joining the event. Wounded Warrior Wives is a program ran by Operation Homefront. You can read about WWW, by clicking HERE The flyer for my Giving Back to Wounded Warrior Wives is at the bottom of this post.
McGraw, Chase and Operation Homefront Donate Home to Wounded Warrior in Georgia
Operation Homefront was pleased to join
Tim McGraw and
Chase
to award a mortgage-free home to Staff Sergeant Kevin Biddle, US Army
(Retired). The Biddles were invited to attend McGraw's concert, meet him
personally and get the news about their home. His wife,
Brittney, blogged about the move and being surprised even more by receiving vouchers to buy new furniture for their home from
American Signature Furniture.
Read the rest of their story:
For
as long as he could remember, Kevin wanted to be in the Army. In 2003,
he decided to make that career decision and joined the Army in
Kennesaw, Georgia. After enlisting, going through all his basic and
advanced training, as a 92 Foxtrot, fuel handler, he, his wife Brittney,
and his daughters Breanna and Caitlin, headed for their first
assignment with the 1st Armored Division in Germany. Life was good.
But
all good things had to come to an end, so in 2006, the Biddle’s moved
to Fort Bliss, Texas where Kevin was assigned to the 1st Cavalry
Division. The days were long and he was advancing in his specialty, but
before long, and not too much after the birth of his son, Nicholas, he
began what was to be his first of two deployments to Iraq.
While
in Iraq with the “First Team,” Kevin’s duties went far beyond fuel
handling. It also included vehicle gunner and other convoy security
duties. Convoys were often attacked with improvised explosive devices,
mortars, or armed assaults. It was during one such incident in 2007,
near Mosul, that Staff Sgt. Biddle found his convoy under an intense
attack and he was severely injured. He was treated in country and
finished out his combat tour and came home in late 2007.
After a
short time at home with his family at Fort Bliss, SSG Biddle was
assigned to the 1st Armored Division, where he met a few of his fellow
warriors from the 1st Armored Division units in Germany in which he had
served earlier. Again, it wasn’t long until he was headed back to Iraq.
It was there that after being exposed to RPG, mortar, and rocket
attacks, the full extent of the injuries from his previous tour became
evident. He was medevac’d home during his 2009 deployment because of
the nerve/spinal damages worsening so the pain became too intense for
him to wear his gear and hold his weapon. Also, while his PTSD had
started to show when he returned home from his first deployment, it was
not professionally diagnosed until late 2009.
He returned to
Fort Bliss in late 2009. After months of surgeries, procedures,
therapies, appointments, and permanent profiles, Kevin began the Medical
Evaluation Board process in early 2010. In late September of 2011,
Kevin got the news that he was being medically retired.
Since
November 12, 2011, the Biddle’s have been living in Mena, AR, hoping to
start the transition into the "normal" civilian life. Little did they
know that "normal" was out of the question. They hoped Mena would
provide the small town life to help Kevin to adjust to life outside of
the Army. However, the numerous, constant, and log distant VA visits
needed for his recovery caused even more physical pain and issues.
Currently, they live with their three children, now 10, 9 and 5 and
their pit bull, Riley, who has become a therapy to Kevin. Riley picks up
on his mood changes, nightmares and so much more before anyone else
can.
The Biddle’s discovered Operation Homefront after hearing
about it through word of mouth. They decided to submit an application
for a home, never dreaming they would actually receive a call. They
hoped to return to Georgia to be closer to their family, as well as
better medical care not only for Kevin, but also for the rest of the
family. Through the ‘Homes on the Homefront’ program, the Biddle’s
were awarded with a mortgage free home in Macon, Georgia, only a couple
hours away from family. This new home will finally give them the
opportunity to stabilize their family in a place where Kevin can get the
medical treatment and rehabilitation he needs, and Brittney and her
children can have a more normal life, get their respective educations,
good healthcare, and be able to look toward a long, bright future.
My Flyers for my Giving Back to Wounded Warrior Wives event:
