A League City veteran and his family received an unforgettable gift this holiday season. As part of Operation FINALLY HOME, U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Shawn Friesen and his family received the keys to a new mortgage-free home in League City’s Tuscan Lakes community. To help celebrate, League City firefighters escorted the family and representatives from Operation FINALLY HOME, Tilson Homes, and the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA) to the home located at 2723 La Spezia Lane.
Operation FINALLY HOME is a nonprofit organization that partners with corporate sponsors, builder associations, builders, remodelers, developers, individual contributors, and volunteers to help provide homes and home modifications to America’s military heroes, first responders, and widows of the fallen. As an added surprise for the Friesen family, the home was furnished thanks to a generous donor.
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Shawn Friesen enlisted in the Marines in 2003 after high school, and was deployed to the Middle East a total of five times during his more than 12 years of service. While leading a team of 25 Marines in Iraq in 2010, Friesen was in an armored vehicle that struck six IEDs. Following the blasts, Friesen was sweeping for additional explosives when a nearby vehicle was struck, leaving him severely wounded. Despite his injuries, Friesen continued serving until he completed his service in 2016, receiving many accolades including Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals with Combat V, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two Combat Action Ribbons, and many more. After being exposed to so many IED blasts, Friesen suffers from PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI), causing confusion, anxiety, equilibrium problems, and more. After his honorable discharge, he obtained his commercial driver’s license and works evening hours, which helps his PTSD.
