![]() ![]() She did receive leave to go home in January 2018. could not schedule for leave at CHRISTmas. was assisted back to Los Angeles to visit her terminally ill mother. Some soldiers who could not travel at CHRISTMAS had extreme needs that OPERATION H.O.M.E. that would have never happened." 25 individual reunited with family CHRISTMAS 2017 greeted Operation H.O.M.E with Additional needs beyond other years. While home, after more than 15 years, he received an unexpected visit from his maternal grand-mother and his birth mother. The surprise was greater for him than for Operation H.O.M.E. to say "Thank You" to all of the sponsors who made it possible to be "HOME". I always felt welcome there." After Hooks returned back to his base he contacted Operation H.O.M.E. "They always treated me like one of theirs. While interviewing PFC Hooks, he expressed the desire to spend CHRISTmas with his best friend's family. received a recommendation for Hooks to travel to his home state for CHRISTmas. PFC Hooks spent almost the full 22 years of his life in foster care homes. A CHRISTMAS REUNION.Completely UNexpected! "If I can see my little girl, that is all I want for CHRISTMAS." That is exactly what he got. offered to send him to Puerto Rico and NY to see his daughter. Because of the sacrifice this soldier made for the country and his family, Operation H.O.M.E. spoke about his young daughter living with her mother in NY. I am afraid if I go back I will not be able to leave my family in those conditions and head back to my base and the comforts here." As the interview continued PFC T. When offered to be flown back home for CHRISTmas his response was quite moving "I cannot go back. However, his generosity prevented him from affording a plane fare to be with any family for CHRISTmas. His financial support helped his family with water, food and shelter. This fine soldier had been sending the majority of his service pay back to his father and siblings in Puerto Rico ever since Hurricane Irma destroyed the island. They were facing some extenuating circumstances.Īlthough his life away from the military was in tatters that statement summed up the simple desire felt by PFC Angel T. They had not seen their family in two years. The service member had to meet one of the following two criteria: worked with the assistance of Army Chaplains to find 10 deserving soldiers and funded their trips home. God used a small group of people to donate over $13,000 in just 12 days. We contacted friends, family and business associates to ask for help. We founded Operation H.O.M.E with the goal of Helping Our Military's Enlisted get home for Christmas. We decided on Decemto try meeting as many needs as possible. We asked ourselves, "How can we help those who cannot afford to get home during the holidays?" (For many of the military personnel who have not seen family in several years a trip home is a therapeutic and restorative time that boost troop morale.) The meager pay our enlisted service people receive does not permit many to save enough to buy tickets home. Getting the opportunity for "leave" is not the problem. This is the reason for Operation H.O.M.E.Īfter that conversation, we began to realize many of our brave young enlisted soldiers cannot afford to travel home to see their families. During his time at home we asked him, “How many enlisted soldiers who receive a Holiday leave actually get to go home?” His answer was quite surprising and moving, “Very few.” We made sure he could be home to celebrate with his family. The next year our son was home for Thanksgiving 2015 leave. He was able to get home with the financial help of family members. Being stationed in Alaska his travel was extremely expensive. Justin was able to come home for Christmas that year. We could tell that he not only wanted to be home, he needed to be home to see the faces of those who drive his reason to serve. He didn't know if he would receive "leave", but he prayed and hoped it could happen. During the fall of 2014, we wanted to see our son home for Christmas. When we spoke with him on the phone we knew by the sound of his voice he was hoping to be home for Christmas but was unsure if the dream would come true. We love America and we all are so proud of our son's service. The siblings of our soldier miss him as deeply as he longs to be with them. Our family is a tight knit group with six kids. ![]() ![]() Army and is stationed a great distance from home, we know his longing to see his family.
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