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Collin County will soon be home to an injured hero
Berenice Quirino/Staff photos - Army Sergeant Justin Feagin holds his son during a luncheon hosted by the Texas Sentinels Foundation. The luncheon was meant to give him and his family and home.
By Marthe Stinton, Mstinton@acnpapers.com
COLLIN COUNTY -- As the war on terror continues, several wounded vets are returning home to find themselves facing painful challenges. From injury to rehabilitation to adjusting to civilian life, readjustment can prove to be a daunting task.
The process is about to get a little easier for one Collin County veteran.
Justin Feagin and his family have been awarded a scholarship from the Texas Sentinels Foundation that will supply a new, debt-free home in Melissa.
According to its website, the Texas Sentinels Foundation provides qualified wounded veterans and their families with new debt-free homes in Texas in conjunction with the Texas Sentinels Foundation life scholarship, job placement and ongoing mentorship, enabling returning veterans to realize their families' dreams.
Feagin is a five-year veteran wounded in 2010 while serving as the head of an Afghan Border Police unit. While on patrol, he was hit with by an improvised explosive device (IED) that cost him his left foot, ruptured his right eardrum, broke several bones and caused numerous deep shrapnel lacerations, including one to his femoral artery.
Charly Clark, director of the Collin County Association of Realtors, is on the Texas Sentinels Committee who has been tasked with raising the $75,000 needed to build the home for Justin Feagin and his family.
Feagin has endured physical therapy with the help of his wife, Kayla, and son, Tyler. He plans to be released on medical leave from the Army at the end of the year and is looking forward to moving closer to his family.
"You don't go into the army thinking that you are going to get a free house out of the deal but everything happened the way it happened and I am more than grateful for this community and what they are doing as well as the Texas Sentinels," he said. "I lost my left leg below the knee, my right eardrum was blown out, I have a shattered finger and scars everywhere. I live in San Antonio and am still in active duty in the army while I wait for them to release me. Hopefully, that will be near the end of the year."
Justin is adapting to his new leg, which he said "feels pretty normal now," and if the circumstances were different would deploy with his unit again.
"When you sign up you know what you are getting yourself into," he said. "You know the risks and the hazards that go along with the job. Just spending as much time as I did with my unit I made great friends. It was a family and I wouldn't let them go back over there without me if the circumstances were different."
Kayla and Justin have been together for five years. She has been by his side through all of his training, deployments and physical therapy.
"She has been especially helpful and understanding through the hard times," Justin wrote in his application letter. "I know this is difficult for her but she is truly a strong woman and pulls it all together with grace."
Kayla said the transition will bring them closer to their families than they have been in years.
"I am looking forward to being near our families," she said. "We have lived in Ft. Campbell and it was 10 hours away from family. In San Antonio we were a bit closer at only five hours away and now when we live here, it will only be about 10 minutes."
Justin said he knew at 13 years old that he was meant to be personally involved on the war on terror.
"I was sitting in my eighth grade science class when I heard that the world trade center had been hit by hijacked airplanes," he wrote in his application letter. "I'm sure every American was touched that day, but there was something inside me that knew at that moment that I would do something personally. Five years later I made the choice and signed up with the United States Army Infantry."
Justin said he chose the infantry because he knew it would be a challenge--something he enjoys as he pushes himself to find what is and what is not possible. Justin was sent to basic training in July 2006, trained for nine months, and joined the Rakkasan's -- a special unit within the 101st Airborne Division. He was deployed for 15 months to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Because of his service, Justin was awarded with the Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Ribbon, National Defense Ribbon, Army Achievement Medal, Army Accommodation medal, Good Conduct Medal, Overseas Ribbon, Iraqi Service Ribbon, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Afghanistan Service Ribbon, NATO Ribbon, Purple Heart Medal, Congress Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Rifleman Badge, Expert Machine Gunner Badge and Expert Pistol Badge.
"Our continued hope is that we will be able to furnish the house and pay the taxes for him annually," she said. "We have a long-term goal here and are absolutely thrilled that we are able to do this and give back to someone who has given so much to us."
The group is currently in the fundraising process. Highland homes will build the home and the group has to raise the money before the home will be built.
"Hillwood Development has sold the lot to us at a very good rate and we hope to begin construction in September," Clark said. "This is a first-time venture for us. It was initiated by Mal Smith, who is our president this year, and Richard Fillip. Fillip had started the program in Houston. We thought as the association of realtors it is a great way for us to give back to the community in addition to Justin and his family."
There have been more than 35,000 catastrophic injuries since 9/11, Fillip said, out of the homeless veterans, more than 6,500 were from the War on Terror. Fillip said he began the organization after hearing several friends and neighbors recount tragic tales of loved ones afflicted by war.
"You have an incredible group that has given so much to our country that we decided in 2007 to found the Texas Sentinels, and affiliated companies to build debt-free homes for our wounded warriors," Fillip said. "We are very proud that we have helped five sentinels in Texas that we have worked with and for. It has been very rewarding to see the outreach of the community."
The Texas Sentinel Foundation and the Collin County Association of Realtors are currently raising funds to build the Feagin's new home. They hope to begin construction this fall. For information on how to donate or to learn more about the program, visit texassentinels.org or call 281-828-8888.
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