A GREAT CHRISTMAS SURPRISE - Christmas 2022

During the seven year existence of OPERATION:H.O.M.E. this organization has endeavored to help enlisted individuals who cannot afford to get home for CHRISTmas. OPERATION:H.O.M.E. now receives many requests around the calendar for assistance aimed at special family events (graduations, family sickness, childbirth etc.)  OPERATION:H.O.M.E. has always prioritized those who have not been home in 2 years or more. During the 2022 calendar year OPERATION:H.O.M.E. received 95 legitimate (those we confirmed as real) requests for assistance in getting home. With the generous support of our donors we were able to help 47 of those individuals in their attempt to get home. Here a are a few examples:

SPC Avellanna had not seen his siblings since 2013. Having moved to the US from the Philippines after his mother passed away, a reunion with his older siblings never occurred, Avellanna had served nearly 3 years in the USARMY without getting home for CHRISTmas…until donors of OPERATION:H.O.M.E. made it possible.

SGT Spurr has a younger sister who has been diagnosed with cancer…his mother is also battling health issues and he has 7 nieces/nephews he had never met. Those reasons alone were enough to assist Spurr in getting home. However, the fact he hadn’t seen his family in 5 years OPERATION:H.O.M.E. supporters underwrote his trip home.

SGT Bermudez simply wanted to see the family he had not seen since 2018.

PFC Martins wanted to see his grandfather who is suffering from Alzheimer’s, plus the PFC hadn’t been home at CHRISTmas since 2018.

SRA Spotts

SRA Spotts of the USAF left home before the pandemic…he had not been home since. In a conversation with his mother, she said “All I want for CHRISTmas is to see you!” Spotts is stationed in Italy…the airfare was more than he could afford. He reached out to OPERATION:H.O.M.E. and our donors delivered once again. The opportunity for OPERATION:H.O.M.E. to help the airman in surprising his family presented itself when 84 Lumber Company made a donation to the organization. We contacted 84 Lumber, and they also provided a location and truck. Watch the video of this special homecoming below.

CLICK THE LINKS BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS!!

Corporate sponsorship by 84 Lumber

Video production by Issac Apon

This story has been featured on Good Morning America, Fox28, ABC6 and ABC World News Tonight: America Strong Segment

WORKING THROUGH NEW CHALLENGES TO HELP THOSE WHO SERVE OUR GREAT COUNTRY! - CHRISTMAS 2021

All Americans craved, hoped, and prayed for a return to normalcy during the 2021 calendar year. As much as we desired the return to the old normal, it just did not happen. Some of the same challenges we faced in 2020 lingered as we tried to raise money and identify those who needed help getting home to see their family. In addition to those challenges, Operation:H.O.M.E. dealt with more cancelled flights that made scheduling more difficult as well as drove prices higher and higher on a daily basis. At Operation:H.O.M.E we also began to deal with a situation we had not considered before...the change in orders that relocated military chaplains we worked with on each base. When a chaplain is transferred, his replacement may have no idea what Operation:H.O.M.E. has been doing on their respective bases. Therefore, we must introduce ourselves to the new chaplains and let them know what we do to serve the military service members who need our help. The new chaplains we meet are incredibly grateful for our supporters and the fact Operation:H.O.M.E. directs our funding to those who truly need the help. However, it takes a lot of time to educate the chaplains to what we are about, and they have regulations they must clarify for their protection.

During the 2021 CHRISTmas season Operation:H.O.M.E. assisted thirty-seven service members in their quest to get home to see family. We again received far more nominations than we could fund. We vetted all the nominees and sent home those most in need and what we could cover. We helped ten individuals who had not been home in 2 years or more. We sent home those who needed to see parents who are terminally ill. We helped those, whose children were desperate to see their parent serving our country.

We would like to thank all our supporters who help us each year. Operation:H.O.M.E. could not make the dreams come true for these military members, were it not for our donors. In 2021 a grieving family who lost their military son, in an auto accident, chose to honor him by holding a memorial event and donated a significant amount of the funds raised to Operation:H.O.M.E. to help others get home for CHRISTmas. Associated with that same contribution we received a corporate donation from the corporate office of a grocery store chain from the western U.S., named SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET. A husband and wife from NJ, contacted Operation:H.O.M.E. about helping us financially…they met with their friends and neighbors and collected donations totaling $20,000. Even with those incredible stories we still were extremely tight budgeted in 2021 because of economic issues facing people around the country.

One last point from 2021…Last August during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, thirteen of America’s finest lost their lives serving other. Just as is normal, American military members, who were on the frontlines helping others, not always just Americans, lost their lives in service of other humans. These men and women are GREAT AMERICANS. We at Operation:H.O.M.E. made the decision to honor all thirteen individuals on “The Wall of Honor” on this website.

Please remember: “It has always been the Soldier, on land, in air and at sea, who has paid the price that buys American Freedoms!”

WE USE SOLDIER AS A GENERIC TERM. WE KNOW THAT THOSE IN THE USMC WISH TO BE CALLED “MARINE”, THOSE SERVING IN THE USN ARE A “SAILOR”, ANYONE DEFENDING IN THE USAF IS “AIRMAN” AND THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE USARMY WISHES TO BE CALLED “SOLDIER”. THAT SAID, WE MEAN NO DISRESPECT IN USING THE TERM SOLDIER GENERICALLY. WE RESPECT ALL WHO SERVE. THEY ARE ALL GREAT AMERICANS.

“WOW….WHAT A YEAR!” - CHRISTMAS 2020

WE ALL SAID THAT AT LEAST ONCE DURING THE YEAR 2020.

IN SOME FORM OR FASHION, WE HAVE ALL SAID IT…... ”2020 WHAT A YEAR!”

Here at OPERATION:H.O.M.E., it was the same. After 2019, a year of firsts, our expectations of opportunities for 2020 seemed vast.

CHRISTmas 2019 brought to OPERATION:H.O.M.E. the chance to; assist a US Marine for the first time, assist a US Sailor for the first time, and OPERATION:H.O.M.E., for the first time received a nomination from a US Soldier (who we assisted in 2015) for another US Soldier in need of financial help to travel home.

During the CHRISTmas season, as we were helping other nominees, we came to the realization we had helped (or were helping) service members part of the US Army, US Navy and US Air Force . THEN we realized we had never helped anyone from the USMC. Not one Marine in 5 CHRISTmas seasons.

We began to call Marine bases seeking the possibility to help. At one Marine base that incurs expensive travel cost….we were told to expect several nominees. After remaining in communication and seeking nominees we only received ONE. I asked our contact chaplain why only one applicant had been submitted and he said…”that is all that was approved.” 

Because of the help of our supporters we fulfilled our promise to send Marine LCpl Wolf home for CHRISTmas.  At OPERATION:H.O.M.E., we did not understand why no more nominations came our way but were honored to help whoever we could.  In our conversations with the Chaplains there seemed to be uncertainty as to why more nominations were not approved to be provided to OPERATION:H.O.M.E.

Then the reason WHY was revealed to us.

During a regularly scheduled meeting with Base Command the Garrison Chaplain’s office updated Command with the information that LCpl Wolf had left for home to be with his family for CHRISTmas. Those sitting around the room had a questioning look on their faces as to why this information was shared. Many Marines from that base had taken leave for CHRISTmas. The Chaplain reminded them several Marines financially could not afford to go home for 2019 CHRISTmas leave but OPERATION:H.O.M.E., had offered to help. Only LCpl. Wolf had been approved to be submitted to our organization.

Command asked the Chaplains it they were sure OPERATION:H.O.M.E. had funded the airfare for LCpl. Wolf.  Chaplains confirmed. Command explained more Marines were not approved for nominations because of past scams and fraud. We were told later that the Base Command was “shocked” at what OPERATION:H.O.M.E. had done. They expected it to be another unfulfilled promise.

However because we strive to be good stewards with the gifts given by our supporters and because we did what we promised for the military members who needed help from us -- we were told to “expect 15-20 nominations next CHRISTmas(2020)” from that particular base.

The most military personnel OPERATION:H.O.M.E. has ever funded in one year is 27 from multiple military branches. In 2020 we received 73 nominations from multiple bases. We were able to send 39 of those nominations HOME. Thank you to ALL of our donors who made that happen.

OUR GOAL IN 2021 IS TO SEND 70 INDIVIDUALS HOME…..WE CAN DO IT WITH YOUR HELP! PLEASE HELP US MEET THAT GOAL.

Considering everything that happened in 2020 we were blessed to have the support to help 39 individuals. As things get back to normal we believe we can meet the need of 70 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.

We have now SERVED ALL FOUR MAJOR BRANCHES OF THE US ARMED FORCES! - Christmas 2019

CHRISTMAS 2019

LOTS OF FIRST IN 2019
WITH THIS YEARS CAMPAIGN WE HAVE NOW
SERVED ALL FOUR MAJOR BRANCHES OF
THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES!

**SPC CAMACHO with the US ARMY is originally from the Philippines. Camacho had not been home in 6 years. His ticket was the most expensive Operation: H.O.M.E. had ever purchased. That very fact is the reason Camacho had never travelled home. The really awesome part of this story….the individual who nominated Camacho was 1st Sergeant Lopez. This nomination came from a base on the east coast of the USA. It is a base from which Operation: H.O.M.E. had never received a nomination nor had any contact in the past. When we inquired with Sgt. Lopez how he heard about our efforts and how he knew he could nominate a soldier. He informed us that he was a recipient in 2015 (our first CHRISTmas) while stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska. WHAT DO YOU KNOW?!……….Operation: H.O.M.E.’s first grandchild.

**US NAVY - PETTY OFFICER First Class VICTOR is the very first member of the US Navy that Operation: H.O.M.E. has had the privilege to
help. Our first Sailor. HOOYAH!  We were contacted with a nomination about this sailor who needed to be home. Victor has
a lady in his life that needed him home for her birthday and a Daddy/Daughter dance. The single-income family could barely afford the expensive ticket home and make the 8-year-old’s birthday and CHRISTmas happen. Operation: H.O.M.E.’s donors made it a very special birthday, CHRISTmas and Daddy/Daughter dance as Victor surprised his daughter when he walked into the party. (pushing a new bike from mom and dad.)

**Another first for Operation: H.O.M.E. – We made a couple of phone calls because we had never helped a US Marine….Well we have now!
Oorah!  We contacted a Marine base that has expensive travel cost….we were told to expect several nominees. However, we
only received ONE. We fulfilled our promise to send that Marine home for CHRISTmas. At Operation:H.O.M.E. we did not understand why no more nominations came our way. In our conversations with the Chaplains there seemed to be uncertainty as to why more nominations were not approved to be provided to Operation:H.O.M.E. We were told later that the base command was “shocked” at what Operation: H.O.M.E. had done. They thought it would be another unfulfilled promise or some sort of scam. We have been told to expect 15-20 nominations next CHRISTmas from that base. We must get busy, NOW.

THE SUPPORTERS OF OPERATION:H.O.M.E. HAVE COMMITTED TO THE GOAL OF HELPING ANY ENLISTED MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO CANNOT AFFORD THEIR TRAVEL. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE “SHOCKED” BASE COMMAND BY DOING WHAT WE DO. OUR BRAVE SERVICE MEMBER ARE THE BEST AND THEY DESERVE THE BEST……..AND THAT IS WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO WITH YOUR HELP.
PLEASE DONATE TODAY.

A Real Family Reunion - Christmas 2018

The families of US military personnel make huge sacrifices as the military member serves. The family sacrifices are significant. Few civilians, realize how the families are impacted. The stress can be significant and often leads to divorce.
Daniel and Sophia were married June 2012. After leaving the military in 2013 Sgt. Daniel G., re-enlisted with the US Army in 2016, then was deployed  to Afghanistan during 2017. This caused Daniel to miss CHRISTmas with his wife Sophia and 4-year-old son Adam. The separation put stress on the marriage.
Daniel was in a tough situation. During 2018, Sophia had filed for and received a divorce. She moved from Anchorage, Alaska  4,400 miles back home to an east coast southern state with Adam, now 5 years old.
In November 2018, OPERATION:H.O.M.E. was contacted by Daniel’s 1st Sergeant with a request for help to get Daniel to see his son for CHRISTmas.
Missing CHRISTmas two years in a row was completely unacceptable to Daniel. He had to get to his son. Daniel’s problem was that he is stationed at JBER (Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson) Alaska and a plane ticket to the eastern US would cost $1,500 which he did not have.
With CHRISTmas fast approaching, OPERATION:H.O.M.E. contacted Sgt. Daniel G. He explained his situation and said it was imperative he reach his son for CHRISTmas. As he shared his story, it became clear that 6 years had passed since he had been to his hometown where his parents lived. OPERATION:H.O.M.E. offered to fly Daniel G. to his son and then fly the two of them to Daniel’s parents a couple states away. Daniel declined the second offer and requested that money be spent on another soldier. He said he would drive to see his parents.  We agreed to help Daniel fly home to see his son for CHRISTmas.
As a follow up after Christmas, OPERATION:H.O.M.E. spoke to Daniel after his return to base to ask how his trip went. Daniel shared the trip to see his son was “Awesome” and he was able to take his son to see his parents. But Daniel’s good news didn’t stop there. He told us that Sophia and he decided they would work to make their family whole. Daniel stated he was going to request a career change inside the military, hoping to become a recruiter and take a position as close to his family as possible. Sophia was pleased. 
We were obviously excited about these developments, and Daniel asked if he could share something else. ”Of course!” we replied. “I know that you may think this is crazy but…” Daniel said, “we not only decided to try and make it work, we actually remarried and committed to make this thing work.”
WOW  -- Daniel got his trip.  Sophia got her husband. Adam got his family. MERRY CHRISTmas to all!

To help the family further, OPERATION:H.O.M.E. provided counseling resources to help them  build a stronger bond.

This could not have happened without the contributions and prayers from the incredibly dedicated supporters of OPERATION:H.O.M.E.

The last time we spoke to Daniel was the second week of August 2019. He was on “leave”. His job while on “leave” was moving his family from the southern U.S. to the upper north-west to his new station. Absolutely Fantastic.

Thank you to all who support this work.

25 Military Members Given trips home

2 MEMBERS OF THE USAF TRAVELED HOME FROM GUAM…THE SECOND BRANCH OF THE ARMED FORCES WE HAVE HELPED!
OUR GOAL IS TO HELP EVERY BRANCH!

  • SPC. J. VERA could not afford to go home to San Juan PR., for CHRISTmas, even though his sister was getting married.
    OPERATION H.O.M.E. donors made it happen for SPC. Vera. The bride was happy.

  • A1C. BRONTLEY wanted to see his ailing grand-father one last time. His ticket from his station in the Pacific Ocean was too expensive on his military budget. Thank you OPERATION H.O.M.E. supporters for your sacrifice to make this possible.

  • SPC. Babbidge had not been home for CHRISTmas in 3 years partly because of a deployment to the Middle East. Babbidge got home for CHRISTmas 2018 thanks to OPERATION H.O.M.E.

"IF I CAN SEE MY LITTLE GIRL, THAT IS ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS." - Christmas 2017

Although his life away from the military was in tatters that statement summed up the simple desire felt by PFC Angel T. This fine soldier had been sending the majority of his service pay back to his father and siblings in Puerto Rico ever since Hurricane Irma destroyed the island. His financial support helped his family with water, food and shelter. However, his generosity prevented him from affording a plane fare to be with any family for CHRISTmas.  When offered to be flown back home for CHRISTmas his response was quite moving "I cannot go back. The house I grew up in is gone. The street I grew up on is gone. I am afraid if I go back I will not be able to leave my family in those conditions and head back to my base and the comforts here."  As the interview continued PFC T. spoke about his young daughter living with her mother in NY. He had not seen her in more than a year. Because of the sacrifice this soldier made for the country and his family, Operation H.O.M.E. offered to send him to Puerto Rico and NY to see his daughter. "If I can see my little girl, that is all I want for CHRISTMAS."  That is exactly what he got. 

A CHRISTMAS REUNION....COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED! 

PFC Hooks spent almost the full 22 years of his life in foster care homes. Operation H.O.M.E. received a recommendation for Hooks to travel to his home state for CHRISTmas. While interviewing PFC Hooks, he expressed the desire to spend CHRISTmas with his best friend's family. "They always treated me like one of theirs. I always felt welcome there."  After Hooks returned back to his base he contacted Operation H.O.M.E. to say "Thank You" to all of the sponsors who made it possible to be "HOME". Hooks then unloaded a huge surprise. The surprise was greater for him than for Operation H.O.M.E. While home, after more than 15 years, he received an unexpected visit from his maternal grand-mother and his birth mother. Hooks said "Without Operation H.O.M.E. that would have never happened."

25 individual reunited with family

CHRISTMAS 2017 GREETED OPERATION H.O.M.E WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS BEYOND OTHER YEARS. SOME SOLDIERS WHO COULD NOT TRAVEL AT CHRISTMAS HAD EXTREME NEEDS THAT OPERATION H.O.M.E. HELPED WITH AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

* PFC Melissa M. was assisted back to Los Angeles to visit her terminally ill mother. 

* PVT Lynette G. could not schedule for leave at CHRISTmas. She did receive leave to go home in January 2018. The reason she needed to go home was the need to move her daughter, who was living with an ill grandmother, to the base where PVT G. is stationed.

* SPC McJames, age 21, is awaiting word from the courts in her home states so she can take custody of her 2 younger siblings. McJames lost her mother in 2017 and is battling to keep her brother and sister together with her. 

17 Service Members sent home for Christmas 2016

CHRISTMAS 2016

HAMLIN: Home for Christmas

According to CPT Josh Curtis, one soldier under his command, PFC Hamlin from Mississippi, "volunteered for the US Army for patriotism, honor and to give back to this Nation."  She saw it as a way to continue educating her self to make for a better future. 

Hamlin also financially takes care of her mother and 4 siblings back home. Being that the economy has been weak for the last 8 years she sends home a good portion of her pay to assist her family's financial instability.  Hamlin's stress helping back home is elevated because of her mothers poor health that keeps her from working.

The selfless acts of serving the country and supporting her family can be a very mentally taxing endeavor. Since her family is dependent on her income Hamlin could not afford to save the money to go home for Christmas.

The sacrificial giving of the donors to Operation H.O.M.E assured Hamlin arrived home in time for Christmas 2016, much her family's joyous surprise. 

 AN OVERJOYED MOTHER

Mike from Florida had no money to get home for Christmas 2016. Operation H.O.M.E. helped Mike get there. However, only Mike knew he would be home for Christmas......his mother had no idea. 

Watch and try not to smile. 

HEALANDER: Give and it shall be given to you!

Operation H.O.M.E. had just overnighted 16 packages to the 2016 recipients for travel home for Christmas. Not yet even 1 mile from the FedEx drop off and a phone call came in from Chaplain MAJ Hall about a PFC Healander.

During the year 2016 Healander's home town was devastated by tornadic weather. His parents' home was destroyed and the roof was ripped from his sisters house. Healander offered his house trailer to his parents and sent money back to his sister to help replace her roof.

Because of his sacrifice to his family he could not save the money to go home for Christmas.

Operation H.O.M.E. sent out the 17th package immediately to get Healander home for Christmas.