Dumas Family Receive Keys to Mortgage-Free Home May 24
Representatives from Operation FINALLY HOME, Plantation Homes, Union Park, Hillwood Communities and the Dallas BA joined the Little Elm community to honor U.S. Army SPC Daniel Dumas and his family on Thursday morning, May 24. This special welcome home ceremony culminated in a ribbon-cutting, followed by handing the Dumas family the keys to their new home.
This is the Dallas BA’s sixth Operation FINALLY HOME project. U.S. Army SPC Daniel Dumas was surprised Jan. 27 with the news that he and his family would soon be moving into a custom-built, mortgage-free home in the master-planned community of Union Park in Little Elm. The surprise took place during a special groundbreaking ceremony attended by approximately 100 neighbors, supporters and dignitaries.
U.S. Army Specialist Daniel Dumas grew up in Vero Beach, Fla. In 2009, he joined the Army and became a medic because he loved helping people.
His unit deployed a few months later and on the very first day, they were shot at by a heavy machine gun. On the second day, his unit was scheduled for a joint mission with the Afghan National Army where, following the meeting, an ANA member opened fire on the group. Dumas was five-feet away from the incident before the ANA shooter was shot and killed. These events have left him with PTSD in addition to a sensitivity to loud noises.
Daniel retired honorably from the Army in 2014. He received many commendations, including the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Combat Medical Badge and several other awards.
He continues to suffer from back pain in addition to knee pain and anxiety. He works full time as a claims adjuster for an insurance company, while also attending college full time to complete his degree in business administration.
Daniel and his wife, Melissa, are parents to a 4-year-old son and a newborn. Melissa is a home health nurse for special needs children. She is completing school to earn her BSN to become an emergency room nurse.
Visit the Community Engagement tab at DallasBuilders.org to donate to this project. Donations of materials, cash and labor are needed to help build homes for this American hero.
The Dallas BA and its members have been involved in providing mortgage-free homes to five previous combat wounded veterans and their families. Three projects were completed in 2016. Builders were Mishler Builders, Classic Urban Homes in partnership with the Dallas Division of the Dallas BA and Altura Homes with help from Family of 3 – a Robert Griffin III Foundation.
The Association completed its first two projects in 2014, thanks to the generosity of its members, SouthStar Communities, Victory Custom Homes, the Retired NFL Players Association and Tim Jackson Custom Homes.