A house for a local hero

Houston Chronicle:

During his decade in the Army — more than a year of it spent in Iraq — Army Staff Sgt. Rene Fernandez built a sterling military record. The Baytown soldier led more than 300 combat missions, trained in excess of 33,000 troops. For his diligence, he amassed a bulging duffel bag of honors.

In or out of the military, Fernandez's future seemed golden.

Then in April 2004, Fernandez's Humvee detonated a roadside bomb. The officer's body absorbed most of the blast, leaving him with brain injuries that, though not fatal, ensured a life of diminished ability and pain.

Thursday morning, Lake Houston-area residents showed Fernandez their appreciation.

As packed snow glistened on nearby housetops, scores of bundled, flag-waving, cheering neighbors lined the streets of Lakeshore Subdivision to pay tribute. Then, in a ceremony highlighted by testimonials to Fernandez's valor, former President George H.W. Bush handed the former Army officer the keys to a new two-story, four-bedroom home.

The house was provided by Helping a Hero, a Houston-based organization that helps veterans. The house, the ninth awarded to seriously injured vets, was built through the cooperation of Perry Homes and dozens of donors.

Northshore Rotarians gave $100,000, said Meredith Iler, chairwoman of the home program, and students, parents and staff at Galena Park ISD contributed $18,500.

Bush, standing in a room packed elbow-to-elbow with business and political leaders, called Fernandez "a true hero."

"He has given distinguished service to his country, just remarkable service," Bush said.

As Fernandez's wife, Barbara, and the couple's children, Trenton, 15, Matteo, 9, Madeline,7, and Elijah, 3, marched center stage, Bush handed the retired officer the house key.

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A wall in the family room in which the ceremony took place was dominated by framed displays of Fernandez's military honors. Among them were two Purple Heart medals and medals for Army achievement and commendation.

"We couldn't give a house away without calling 'Mattress Mac'," Iler told the group, alluding to Jim "Mattress Mac" McIngvale, owner of Gallery Furniture. "He has agreed to give not just a mattress, but a whole house full of furniture. The van is waiting out front."

After the ceremony, Fernandez, 33, expressed his gratitude to his benefactors.

"The house is amazing," he said. Currently, the family resides in a smaller ranch style house in Baytown. Fernandez said his family would begin moving Thursday evening.

Fernandez's injuries left him with little short-term memory, intense pain and weakness and occasional numbness on the right side.

"I try to not to think about what I can't do, but what I can do," he said.

Fernandez said he has enrolled in Lee College, where he is taking classes that will prepare him for a teaching career.

"I want to teach geography and coach football, baseball and soccer," he said. "Everybody remembers a teacher."

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Seven more troops have been selected for homes in the coming weeks. It is an interesting program.

We should look at giving some preferences to veterans on repossessed homes that the government is acquiring too many of. While it is nice to see these guys get new homes, I think that returning vets could do some good things with the repos from the mortgage debacle.