x
Breaking News
More () »

Medal of Honor recipient given new, mortgage-free home in Bastrop

On Thursday morning, Medal of Honor recipient, Ty Carter, was given the keys to his free, new custom built home in Bastrop.

BASTROP, TX —

BASROP, Texas -- On Thursday morning, Medal of Honor recipient Ty Carter was given the keys to his free, new custom-built home in Bastrop.

Staff Sergeant Carter was awarded his Medal of Honor for his bravery nine years ago, following the battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan. There, he risked his life to save others during combat operations against an armed enemy on Oct. 3, 2009. He ran through intense enemy fire to rescue a fellow wounded soldier and was brutally injured in the process.

Today, Carter is one only seven Medal of Honor recipients in the state of Texas. Dozens of fellow veterans and community members were there to welcome him to his new home that he will share with his wife, daughters, and service dog, Nala.


“That’s kind of how I see Heaven, to have all my girls under one roof and this house can provide that. When my daughters do come here, I will tell them this is a gift from the community and to make sure if you see someone from Bastrop, you say ‘thank you’ to them,” Carter said. “We [veterans] get thanks a lot, but this is one of the few places where we can thank the community for helping us move into this house.”

Although a well-deserved gift, how the army hero was given the home happened somewhat by happenstance.

Local army veteran Bill “Tap” Taparauskas shared that one day his wife asked him to pick up the newspaper, something the couple said they had not done in some time. Taparauskas said he came across an article over the Texas Sentinels Foundation and how they aimed to build homes for wounded army veterans.

Touched by their mission, he contacted the group and told them he would volunteer to general contract it for free.

"It’s veterans helping veterans. It's just that way and a stroke of luck because we hadn't been taking the Statesman, but my wife asked me to go get it. I read the article about it, and I've been on board ever since!”


Taparauskas got to work in January. He said although he had never met Carter prior to the building process, that he instantly felt a connection to his fellow serviceman.

“He was a hero, took some bullets, and rescued a guy. Saved his life,” said Taparauskas. “They ran out of ammo, and he ran out under fire and brought ammo back. Just one of those things that a hero does.”

Richard and Jeanne Filip founded the Texas Sentinels Foundation 11 years ago with the mission to help wounded veterans returning home from war to rebuild their lives.

“We realized so many military men and women had been injured and were coming back feeling hopeless,” Mr. Filip said.

Since they found their calling, they, alongside the help of thousands of volunteers, have been able to help other heroes in need of not only homes, but other means of support, like scholarships.

The foundation is purely volunteer-based, in which 97.5 cents of every dollar goes straight to wounded veterans being assisted.

“We are a family, it is very meaningful for us to have personal relationships with them. We’re all one big roof,” said Mrs. Filip. “We have incredible soldiers, service members of the foundation who have made wonderful lives for them and their family.”

To learn more about the foundation or to get involved, you can visit their website by clicking here.

Before You Leave, Check This Out