Operation FINALLY HOME, a non-profit organization has invited the Patriot Guard to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for a new home they are building for Wounded Warrior SSG Oskar Zepeda, U.S. Army, in Perris, CA, and we are honored to do so.
The Patriot Guard will meet, brief, at the initial staging area for the procession. If you wish to participate and meet our Hero, he is expected to meet us at our staging site and we can shake hands and learn how he is doing.
We will then bring SSG Zepeda to the home site. Operation FINALLY HOME encourages all supporters to line the street to help welcome this Veteran to his new home. Distinguished guests will address the audience during the ceremony.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Oskar R. Zepeda had dreams of becoming an elite Ranger in the military. After he enlisted in Los Angeles, California, in March 2004, he trained in the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP), at airborne school, as well as sniper school to become a Ranger. During his 10 years of service he served as a machine gunner, rifleman, team leader, squad leader, Ranger sniper and platoon sergeant.
Zepeda served on nine deployments from 2005 to 2011, three in Iraq and the other six in Afghanistan. During his ninth deployment, Zepeda was on a mission to capture a Taliban commander in Afghanistan. While he and his men executed the mission, he had to subdue an enemy combatant. As Zepeda put his arms around him, the combatant detonated a grenade in his hand, killing himself and severely injuring Zepeda and his fellow soldiers. As he lay wounded, Zepeda was still able to call out instructions to his fellow Rangers, allowing his comrades to eventually close in on and defeat the enemy.
As a result of the blast, Zepeda suffered multiple injuries that have left him without quadriceps and a hamstring in his right leg. He also suffers from drop foot, drop wrist, traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), loss of use of his right hand and other extremities, as well as a neurostimulator implanted in his spine to help with pain in his arm. Since his injury, Zepeda has received more than 30 surgeries for his injuries and is continuing his recovery with the help of medical centers such as Brooke Army Medical Center, Madigan Army Medical Center and UCLA Medical Institute. He officially retired from the Army in February 2014.
Zepeda is a highly decorated veteran honored with numerous awards, including a Purple Heart, two Army Commendation Awards, two Global War on Terrorism Medals and many more. He currently lives in Sylmar, California, with his wife and two children, with support and family nearby. Zepeda is still in recovery and recently joined the bike group “Ride to Recovery” as a new therapy and hopes to help other biking disabled service members one day.
Thanks to Operation FINALLY HOME and PulteGroup Built to Honor™, the Zepeda family will have a home to call their own in Southern California in 2016.
We look forward to returning when the home is completed and SSG Zepeda will receive the keys to his new home. What a great day that will be!
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this American Hero. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the Hero and his family to the site of where his new home will be built. Please see the time table if you would like to participate.
Time Table for Thursday, 31 MAR 16: 0930 - Stage at McDonalds, 1675 N. Perris Blvd., #D, Perris, CA 92571
https://goo.gl/maps/ucXZq9981p12 0945 - Mission briefing
1000 - Meet and Greet with Hero and his family
1015 - KSU to site of ceremony
1030 - Flag Line and ceremony for Groundbreaking
R/C Vince Hernandez
So Cal PGR Ride CaptainUSMC Vet
calldanek@yahoo.com
951-236-3140 cell
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
Please post your thank yous and congratulations to the National link:
https://www.patriotguard.org/showthread.php?415538
