Helping a Hero Make a Home
Tax deductible
Spirit of a Hero is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to making a significant impact in one veteran's life a year. This year, we are honored to announce Marine Sgt Omar Milan as the 2015 Spirit of a Hero Recipient.
Omar and his family of four currently live in a two- bedroom apartment in Mansfield, Texas. As many can relate, apartment living can have its challenges. Now imagine apartment living as an amputee. There are times when finding a handicap parking spot is a challange, getting from room to room in a wheelchair is a challenge, maintenance issues have required the girls to sleep in Omar and Michelle's room, leaving Omar on the sofa. Our goal is to raise enough money to get Omar and his family into a home while his forever home is being built. Help us help this family! This is Omar's story...
My name is Omar Milan. I was born in Fort Worth and raised in Mansfield, Texas. I graduated from Mansfield High School in 2000. Shortly after graduating high school I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. I became a Field Radio Operator assigned to India Battery 3rd BN 10th Marines at Camp Lejeune. During my enlistment, I served one combat tour to Iraq for the invasion in 2003. Soon after the deployment, my wife Michelle and I were married. We then had our first beautiful daughter, Rachel, in 2004. I was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps that year. However, civilian life didn’t suit me well. I reenlisted in the Air Force in 2006. While in the Air Force I became an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician. In May 2008, I transitioned back to the Marine Corps as an EOD Technician assigned to 2nd EOD Company, Camp Lejeune. We had our second beautiful daughter Vanessa the same year. While at 2nd EOD Company, I deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit providing EOD support. I also deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 and 2011.
During my second deployment to Afghanistan I was injured. My injuries occurred on January 9, 2012 as I was conducting a post blast analysis. During the analysis of the scene I discovered a secondary IED. I proceeded to dispose of this IED. During its disposal, I stepped on a third IED at the scene. The third IED then pushed me onto a fourth IED. I sustained a below the knee amputation on my right leg, soft tissue and nerve damage to my left leg, damage to left hand with loss of index finger, and damage to right arm with loss of the elbow and nerve damage. In addition, I suffered a concussion with the loss of consciousness, a pelvic fracture, and a fracture to the left clavicle. With my wife and daughters by my side, I spent 2 years at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD undergoing countless surgeries and rehabilitation. In January 2014 I retired from the Marine Corps and moved back to Texas. I plan to attend college, majoring in Chemistry. In my free time I enjoy fishing, woodworking, playing video games, and spending time with my wife and our daughters.
Omar and his family of four currently live in a two- bedroom apartment in Mansfield, Texas. As many can relate, apartment living can have its challenges. Now imagine apartment living as an amputee. There are times when finding a handicap parking spot is a challange, getting from room to room in a wheelchair is a challenge, maintenance issues have required the girls to sleep in Omar and Michelle's room, leaving Omar on the sofa. Our goal is to raise enough money to get Omar and his family into a home while his forever home is being built. Help us help this family! This is Omar's story...
My name is Omar Milan. I was born in Fort Worth and raised in Mansfield, Texas. I graduated from Mansfield High School in 2000. Shortly after graduating high school I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. I became a Field Radio Operator assigned to India Battery 3rd BN 10th Marines at Camp Lejeune. During my enlistment, I served one combat tour to Iraq for the invasion in 2003. Soon after the deployment, my wife Michelle and I were married. We then had our first beautiful daughter, Rachel, in 2004. I was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps that year. However, civilian life didn’t suit me well. I reenlisted in the Air Force in 2006. While in the Air Force I became an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician. In May 2008, I transitioned back to the Marine Corps as an EOD Technician assigned to 2nd EOD Company, Camp Lejeune. We had our second beautiful daughter Vanessa the same year. While at 2nd EOD Company, I deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit providing EOD support. I also deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 and 2011.
During my second deployment to Afghanistan I was injured. My injuries occurred on January 9, 2012 as I was conducting a post blast analysis. During the analysis of the scene I discovered a secondary IED. I proceeded to dispose of this IED. During its disposal, I stepped on a third IED at the scene. The third IED then pushed me onto a fourth IED. I sustained a below the knee amputation on my right leg, soft tissue and nerve damage to my left leg, damage to left hand with loss of index finger, and damage to right arm with loss of the elbow and nerve damage. In addition, I suffered a concussion with the loss of consciousness, a pelvic fracture, and a fracture to the left clavicle. With my wife and daughters by my side, I spent 2 years at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD undergoing countless surgeries and rehabilitation. In January 2014 I retired from the Marine Corps and moved back to Texas. I plan to attend college, majoring in Chemistry. In my free time I enjoy fishing, woodworking, playing video games, and spending time with my wife and our daughters.
Organizer
Tancy Turner
Organizer
Flower Mound, TX
Spirit Of A Hero Foundation
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
