North Texas

Donors Break Ground on Home for Wounded North Texas Veteran

With the turn of a shovel, the journey began for SSgt. James Sackett and his family to a place they can finally call home.

On Thursday morning Sackett, his wife Sandra, and three of their daughters broke the first ground on their future home near Oak Point, a home that’s being given to the family mortgage free.

Sackett is a 20 year career soldier of the U.S. Army who first joined in February of 1994. In that time, he served on several fronts, including a tour in Baghdad where he was severely injured by an improvised explosive device while on patrol on March 26, 2008.

He retired from the military in 2014 and still suffers from neck and back injuries, post traumatic stress disorder, nerve damage and traumatic brain injury.

Currently, Sackett is a corrections officer in Kaufman County, but he and his family have been living without a permanent place to call home for some time now.

So, the charity "Operation Finally Home", working with the Dallas Builders Association, chose Sackett and his family as the next recipients of a free home to thank them for their service to the country.

This is the fourth home the Dallas Builders Association has worked on with the charity and Executive Officer Phil Crone said getting to give this gift to a veteran never gets old.

The home will be a part of a growing subdivision in Oak Point near Highway 380, and should be completed this year.

Sackett simply told the crowd Thursday he was speechless at the incredible gift.

"Operation" Finally Home has built homes across the country for wounded veterans and expect to build their 100th home this year.

Also on hand for the groundbreaking were Denton County officials, Congressman Michael Burgess, and several of the Sacketts’ future neighbors.

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