ROCKWALL – Severely-injured U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Jerry Holcomb II, who was deployed to two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, will be honored at a “Welcome Home” ceremony and receive the keys to a new mortgage-free, custom-built home June 24. at 10 am, in High Point Lake Estates, 2555 Wincrest Dr. Rockwall, TX 75032.
The public is invited to arrive by 9:45 am if you want to attend.
The home was provided by the national non-profit Operation Finally Home and built by Rockwall homebuilder Mischler Builders with the Dallas Builders Association.
The new home was announced as a surprise to Sgt. Holcomb and his family at an FC Dallas soccer game last year (see above photo).
Sgt. Holcomb joined the Army in 2001 and went to Korea for his first duty assignment. He then served in Iraq from April 2003 to April 2004 and December 2005 to November 2006.
During his tour to Afghanistan, beginning in August 2010, Holcomb suffered concussions during two separate grenade explosions, causing severe headaches and shrapnel wounds to the right side of his face, neck, arm and leg. In October, 2010, a third blast threw him from his guard tower and rendered him unconscious with amnesia upon waking. He was immediately medically evacuated to Germany.
Once stable, Holcomb returned to the states for treatment at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland before transferring to the Wounded Warrior Unit in Fort Carson CO. He suffers from a variety of health issues as a result of his deployments, including a traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and neck, shoulder and back pain. Holcomb can no longer drive, and after working a desk job at Fort Hood his continuing seizures ultimately rendered him unable to work. Holcomb medically retired from the Army after 13 years in November, 2014.
He has been honored with many awards, including two Purple Hearts, two Bronze Star Medals – including one with valor, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one star and an Iraq Campaign Medal with four stars.
Holcomb recently moved to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area with his wife and two children. Holcomb hopes to attend college and become a coach.
For information, contact Jaime Christensen, 214-615-3899, or jaime.christensen@dallasbuilders.com.
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