The home was actually the lesser of two tragedies for this Marine. His wide died two weeks ago.HOUSTON (AP) - Houston police have arrested two juveniles after the home of a 93-year-old World War II veteran was vandalized using spray paint during a burglary. . . . Elbert Wood was at a doctor's appointment Monday when he returned home to find the mess - with spray paint on interior walls and furniture. A Purple Heart medal earned by the former Marine, who sustained shrapnel in his leg during the war, was not damaged.
When this story hit, a local talk-radio personality, Michael Berry, asked for help on the radio. Houston responded:
The Marines were just a small portion of the response. Contractors volunteered to renovate his home, materials were donated by local building supply store. A different contractor is putting a new deck in the back yard. It is going to take several weeks to renovate his home, so a local retirement home offered to let him live there for free until he can go back home. Meanwhile, in 24 hours, Houstonians donated over $50,000 in cash. This includes a lot of ordinary, poor hard-working people. One guy donated $450, his entire paycheck for the week.HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There's a good news update on a home ransacked and spray painted by a pair of teen burglars in northwest Houston. While the burglars are now in custody, community members and Marines stepped in to help the homeowner -- a 93-year-old World War II veteran.
The Marines quickly marched into the defaced home of WWII veteran Elbert Wood, eager to help. "It's important that he knows we're here for him and that we're always his brothers," Major Roberto Rodriguez said.
I happen to listen to Michael Berry on the drive home from work. One guy who responded had me tearing up while I was driving. He was a Vietnam Vet Marine; his comment was "I didn't leave anyone behind then, and it's not going to happen now".
When it comes to private, individual charity, the American people are literally the most generous people in the history of planet Earth.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... Bk64qzZh7M" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
News accounts: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?secti ... id=8964256" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/story/20653 ... ii-veteran" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://nbclatino.com/2013/01/25/dad-of- ... -wwii-vet/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
