After 14 years of serving our country, a 2-time Purple Heart recipient is back home. But Staff Sergeant James Pendergrass's life has been harder than even his friends know…a lot harder. He served in Iraq, "Where I received shrapnel in my side and in my legs." Then fought in Afghanistan, "And ended up falling through a roof doing an observation point and broke my back."
Just out of a long rehabilitation which included a 9-month hospital stay, he still suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and severe back pain. He told us, "The hardest part is just not being able to be what I was prior to my injuries. Not being able to pick up my children."
Pendergrass had a big welcome home before, but nothing like what we saw Monday on a quiet street in Spanish Springs. We watched as he was given the front door key, and followed him as he walked through a new-condition, immaculately clean 4-bedroom stucco house.
First a bit stunned, the gift of this large home became more emotional to James. In most rooms he was at a loss for words, whispering to himself how amazing it all was. His wife Tracy telling us, "Amazing. Amazing. Butterflies." Their kids, running down halls and checking out rooms.
James, Tracy, and their 5 kids, are home. Where would this family be without this gift? Probably in some cramped quarters they could barely afford. James finally told us, "It's an amazing place. I can't believe this is happening to me. This is one of those things that never happens to me, do you know what I mean?"
The first thing James was going to install at his new home was an American flag on a pole in the front yard. It was already there.
Staff Sergeant Pendergrass was chosen for the house by the Military Warriors Support Foundation. Both Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase are donating bank-owned homes to that organization to help out our injured veterans.
-written by John Potter
