Drainage Repair Stops Basement Flooding in Veteran’s Ohio Home
Craig Payne calls himself a “product of 9/11.”
He was only 10 years old when the terrorist attacks happened, and he already had dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps and joining the military.
At 20, Craig remembered the attacks as he enlisted in the Army. He planned on making the military his career.
Deployments took him to Kuwait, Iraq, and Jordan. Injuries he suffered in two separate explosions in Iraq made continuing military service impossible. Craig medically retired in 2019 as a staff sergeant.
At the time of his retirement, Craig was stationed in Hawaii with his wife, Elizabeth, and their first child, Oliver. The cost of living and distance from family prompted them to move to Marion, Ohio. They had grown up in the area, and Craig’s parents and sister, along with Elizabeth’s sister, all lived nearby. Oliver, 6, and his younger brother Arthur, 3, are happy to have their grandparents and cousins close. Craig joined the Ohio Warriors, a sled ice hockey league for disabled veterans. He and his wife both work at a local hospital.
“I’ve talked up Operation Homefront’s programs all of the time to other veterans. It’s really nice to know that is it there for us.” – Craig Payne, Army veteran
After a period of rain in 2023, the drainage system around their 1950s house failed. An exterior clay drain that was part of the system broke. This caused their basement to flood, which became a constant problem. Homeowners insurance wouldn’t cover it, and repair estimates were in the thousands. They were not sure what to do until one of Craig’s hockey teammates told him about Operation Homefront. Craig looked online and found the Critical Financial Assistance (CFA) program and applied.
Operation Homefront donors enabled the Payne family to repair the drainage system, work that cost nearly $7,000. Since 2011, the national nonprofit has provided more than $41 million in financial assistance to help military families such as the Paynes stay strong, stable, and secure.
“Words cannot explain how much the program has impacted us,” Craig said. “I’ve talked up Operation Homefront’s programs all of the time to other veterans. It’s really nice to know that it is there for us.”
