Photo By Sgt. Nicole Branch | Maj. Gen. Sean Swindell, USASOC J8, Resources and Requirements speaks during a...... read more read more
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EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - - Once a member of 7th Group, always a member of the Red Empire. The culture of special operations is to take care of their own, and when they do, it’s called “family business.”
U.S. Army Master Sgt. George E. Vera, a former 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldier currently assigned to U.S. Special Operations Command, was presented a mortgage free home from Building Homes for Heroes (BHFH) in Tampa on 2 Dec. for his bravery while assigned to Group. BHFH has assisted 104 Veterans with mortgage free homes. Eleven of the homes were to special operations forces.
Vera arrived to the prestigious Land O’Lakes community in Tampa escorted by the Pasco County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Department, Patriot Guard Motorcycles, Pasco County JROTC and the Alexander Keith Memorial Pipes. Directly overhead, Warbird Adventures provided a simultaneous flyover. It was an amazing sight to behold the heroes welcome.
The event had many distinguished visitors in attendance celebrating the contributions of Vera. Civic and military alike, to include, Florida Senator Wilton Simpson.
Master Sgt. George Vera
It was his love of country that inspired Vera to join the Army. Vera’s father also served honorably in the Marine Corps. In August 2015, on his twentieth year of service, and his fifth tour to Afghanistan, Vera was attached to the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan. A group of insurgents attempted to overrun the camp where Vera was assigned. Vera, along with a small group of others, repelled the enemy fighters, and killed them as they attempted to detonate a suicide vest. Vera was shot four times and was severely wounded.
Vera suffered a spinal cord injury that resulted in paralysis. He suffered a traumatic brain injury, and loss of some of his vital organs. Vera is now confined to a wheelchair. He was awarded numerous awards, to include, a Purple Heart for his injuries sustained in combat.
Vera was able to remain on active duty, and was ultimately assigned to SOCOM where he still continues to serve and make an impact. He considers 7th Group his first home since he started his special operations service in November 2002 in Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion.
“Since being in 7th Group since 2002, I’ve seen a lot of ups and downs, but we always took care of each other, to include family. This always helped when you had to deploy, knowing your family will be taken care of.”
Maj. Gen. Sean Swindell
Maj. Gen. Swindell, USASOC J8, Resources and Requirements, spoke on behalf of Vera during the event. As he recalled their time together when the incident transpired, his voice carried emotion from his feeling of gratitude.
Swindell paused to give a special thank you to a Gold Star Mother in the audience, Angela McKenna, mother to 1st Sergeant Drew McKenna who was also assigned to 7th Group and died in the incident wounding Vera. He said that the event honored two heroes, McKenna and Vera.
“Without the actions of George and Drew many more lives would have perished that day. All I can say is thank you,” said Swindell.
Col. Cary C. Harbaugh
“This house is special because Vera in the first to be gifted a home while on active duty,” said Harbaugh, director of SOCOM’s Care Coalition.
The transaction was made possible through the Care Coalition providing linkage between eligible SOCOM members and charitable entities like BHFH.
“George will go down in the record books for all that he does for SOCOM. Most people consider everything George has done as heroism, but to him it is all part of the job.”
| Date Taken: | 12.22.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 12.22.2017 12:29 |
| Story ID: | 260038 |
| Location: | EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 822 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Providing a home for a 7th Group hero this holiday season, by LTC Kimbia Rey, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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