Just A Guy in My Neighborhood

I first met Joey Bozik and his wife Jayme last Monday. It just a quick chat between the new couple about to move into the neighborhood and someone who has been there a little while. Today, they got the keys to their new home. It happens every day, right?

A Hero's Homecoming: Jayme and Sgt. Joey Bozik. Jayme is due with their first child Christmas Eve. Joey's jacket? Kevlar.

Not unless you consider having your keys parachuted by the Black Daggers after an overflight and landing by a flight of Blackhawks in the neighborhood "normal."

Airborne Express: SOCOM's Black Dagger jumpers brought the keys to the Bozik's new home.

Blackhawks Down Home:A flight of three Blackhawks overflew the ceremonies before landing on some of the undeveloped lots in the neighborhood.

I took some more pictures that I will post later and I'll write a bit more about Operation: Coming Home in the weeks ahead, but in the meantime, here is an account of Sgt. Joey Bozik's homecoming that should warm your heart:

The house was built by Operation Coming Home, a group of military veterans who are now real estate agents and home builders. All the material and labor were donated.
The mission of "Operation Coming Home" is to provide injured war veterans with free houses that they call "Hero Homes." Bozik was the first recipient.
The home was built with special features to make Bozik's life easier, including radiant heat floors, easy-access cabinets, a sprinkler system and appliances with special hinges and levers that make opening doors easier.
Bozik and his pregnant wife were moving in Monday, because Oct. 27 is his "Alive Day" – the anniversary of the day he came out of coma from his injuries.

Veteran's and volunteers in the community provided the lot, the labor, materials and furnishing to say "thank you" to a soldier and his wife for the sacrifices they have made in defense of liberty.

There's a right way to spread the wealth around.

It happened here, and with your help, it will happen again.

Update:One of Joey and Jayme's biggest supporters is milblogger Blackfive, who has an extensive trove of articles about what they gone through to get to where they are today.

Original

First Update (pictures)

Second Update

Third

Fourth

Fifth (pictures)

Sixth (pictures)

Seventh (wedding pictures)

Eighth

Ninth (Love Story)

Tenth (Green Ramp Reunion - pictures)

Eleventh (Welcome Home! - pictures)

Twelvth (Joey and Phil Mikelson team up)

Thirteenth (pictures)

Fourteenth

Fifteenth

Sixteenth (White House Visit)

Seventeenth

Eighteenth (Receives Bronze Star)

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 01:04 PM

Comments

1 Wow, this is so wonderful to see!! God bless 'em. What a love story they have. And how blessed they are to live in your neighborhood!

Also, thanks for posting all the links to Blackfive. Matt always kept us up to date on this wonderful family, and kept up the spiritual warfare on their behalf. He's one fantastic guy!

And thanks for all you do, too, Bob.

Posted by: Maggie45 at October 27, 2008 03:29 PM (VTYPR)

2 God bless 'em, one and all.

Posted by: C-C-G at October 27, 2008 05:00 PM (sII0T)

3 I second that emotion.

Posted by: Dan Irving at October 27, 2008 07:03 PM (Kw4jM)

4 Nice. What a great story.

Posted by: Pablo at October 28, 2008 12:15 AM (yTndK)

5 Hi,
I am Joey's mom, Gail. I just want to say "thank you" for this article. The pictures are great.
Yes, Blackfive, Matt, really helped Joey's name and donations. Also, Soldier's Angels, Patti Bader, helped us greatly when the tragedy happened on Oct. 27th, 2004. Joey is my inspiration too. I, as his mom, could not have made it without his precious spirit and outlook. God has a plan for him. Just pray Joey obeys.
Love,
Gail Bozik

Posted by: Gail Bozik at October 28, 2008 07:03 PM (GAf+S)

6 That was a great, great article.

That guy sounds pretty cool.

Posted by: brando at October 28, 2008 11:43 PM (ttotQ)

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