Purple Heart Recipient Finds Relief with Operation Homefront
Jeffery Taylor joined the Army in November 2001, post-9/11. At the time, he worked at a plant nursery in Florida. He deployed to Kuwait and was sent to Iraq in early 2003 and became part of one of the biggest battles of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
On April 4, 2003, Jeffery was in a vehicle carrying ammunition when it was hit in a mortar attack during the invasion of the Baghdad airport, part of the Battle of Baghdad.
Three of his friends and fellow soldiers died in the explosion. Jeffery landed in a water-filled ditch after being thrown from the vehicle. Rescuers thought he had drowned.
With one leg broken in four places, he was evacuated via Blackhawk to Germany.
Jeffery, who received a Purple Heart, was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury in 2009 after he had a seizure.
“We are very thankful for the donors and what you do. I think it’s great there’s help out there.” – Jeffery Taylor, Army veteran
Jeffery and his wife Tracey, who were high school sweethearts, stayed in Florida after his discharge, and bought a house in 2013 in Jacksonville. The couple have three children. Two are adults. Their youngest is 16 and lives at home. Tracey oftentimes is Jeffery’s caregiver. Working can at times be difficult for him. Because of this, their budget can be tight.
Ten years after they bought the home, their air conditioner failed, and they used money from savings to replace it. Later in 2023, their water heater stopped working. With the family savings depleted, they turned to Operation Homefront’s Critical Financial Assistance program for help restoring hot water.
Thanks to the generosity of Operation Homefront donors, Jeffery was able to fund $1,600 for a new water heater.
“We are very thankful for the donors and what you do,” Jeffery said. “I think it’s great there’s help out there.”
