Wounded Veteran Gets New Home, Without a Mortgage

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — “Bullets, just tracing everywhere killing everybody and we were trapped in probably a twenty-four by twenty-four room,” says 1st Sgt. Peter Lara. Several years ago, 1st. Sgt. Peter Lara was in a fight for his life. “He just shot me through a hole and it went through my weapon, went up through my weapon, got shot in the jaw and then it just kind of got stuck in my head,” says 1st. Sgt. Peter Lara. The details of the fire fight are spine tingling. “I had to clear my throat because my teeth were stuck in my throat, so I just swallowed my teeth and stuff,” says 1st Sgt. Peter Lara. But, hew would eventually make it out of the room and the building to safety. “I ran to the striker, had enough energy to pick myself and get into the striker, when I got in my medic was there and he shot me in the leg with morphine, that’s the last I remember, I woke up 3 days later for about 5 minutes in Germany with my jaw wired shut, I just remember my soldiers being there with me and telling me it was okay,” says 1st Sgt. Peter Lara. From that day forward, 1st Sgt. Peter Lara was on the road to recovery with 40 surgeries ahead. But, he made it. Monday, Sergeant Lara was honored for his work in Iraq, with the keys to a newly renovated home. “1st Sergeant, come on up here Cowboy and let’s see if you can get this thing done,” says Gen Leroy Sisco, Retired 3-star and CEO of Military Warriors Support Foundation. The home was donated by the Military Warriors Support Foundation and GMAC Mortgage. “We are really fortunate today, because we are going to be able to give a home to an incredible man,” says Gen. Sisco. 1st. Sgt. Peter Lara’s home comes without a mortgage thanks to a $20,000 donation by subsidiaries of Blue Cross Blue Shield. 1st Sgt. Peter Lara is now medically retired from the Army and he is looking forward to working in his new yard. “That’s what I do, I put my headphones on and get in the yard, in about a year there will probably be rose bushes in front yard. The house is amazing, I couldn’t ask for more,” says 1st. Sgt. Lara.