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View Full Version : Am I missing something here?


chance
09-14-2012, 16:23
Does anyone know why this Sergeants unit is not involved?

Posted: Sep 14, 2012 1:36 PM PDT Updated: Sep 14, 2012 1:36 PM PDT
By Kelly Joyce, Reporter

The Leadingham family is a group of survivors. In March a fire started by a fan in the kid's room destroyed their home.

Harley Leadingham says, "Me and my brother smelled the smoke so we looked in the back and it was a small fire to begin with but by the time we were outside it had engulfed the entire room."

Three days after the fire, Harley's father, Army Sergeant Richard Leadingham was deployed to Afghanistan.

Since the fire destroyed their home, Linda Leadingham and her four kids have been living in a tent city of sorts in their back yard. She says, "Me and my 10 year old sleep in this tent, Ashley sleeps in here, and TJ sleeps in there."

Before he left, Richard hooked up water for his family to take warm showers, the kids salvaged their refrigerator and microwave, and neighbors have been like angels. A business owner next door gives the family power.

Some teens from the Marion Military academy helped clean out the house, and complete strangers have donated time and money.

Linda says, "The other day I came out and there was an envelope with money in it sitting on my van."

The military academy also started a website and an effort called Operation Rebuild. They are asking for donations to help build the Leadingham family a new home. So far, they've been able to get a roof, siding, windows and nails donated from area businesses.

The plan is to have the new home built by January, to surprise Richard Leadingham when he returns from war.

Read more: http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/19548061/community-helps-after-army-sergeants-home-is-destroyed-by-fire#ixzz26Ut5qptK

The Reaper
09-14-2012, 18:39
Sounds like he might be in the Guard.

No idea why they didn't leave him back a week or two to get things right, but I am sure there is a reason.

Probably not a lot of stay behind members to take care of business for the FRG, but someone sure has been helping them out.

God Bless them all, and may their husband/father return soon.

TR

MTN Medic
09-14-2012, 20:15
+1 TR that makes me feel good when I leave to hear stories like this; people taking care of their deployed soldiers' families. It is hard enough to deploy when everything is fine. Quite another thing when your house is partially burned down.

levinj
09-17-2012, 11:42
Asking out of ignorance here, but would activated NG qualify for Army Emergency Relief? This sounds like something that organization could help out with.

Best of luck to the family, and my sincere appreciation for the folks helping them out.

Pete
09-17-2012, 12:07
No mention of insurance in the story.

JimP
09-17-2012, 12:33
I'm highly skeptical. Just 'cause its in the paper don't make it true. this one stinks.

chance
09-17-2012, 14:03
I'm highly skeptical. Just 'cause its in the paper don't make it true. this one stinks.

That's what I'm getting at, I just can't see some soldiers unit letting his or her family live in tents. National Guard or not.

Pete
09-17-2012, 15:04
A big reason to live in a tent out in the back yard.

The local Red Cross will usually put a family up in a hotel for a week or more but ...........

A total loss is not usually a "total" loss. Could be a number of good things that didn't suffer water, smoke or fire damage. IE tools equipmet in a garage.

The local utility usually cuts power/utilities to a burned home so no alarms, etc.

Staying can help secure the home and lot.

Or - they were under insured and the cost to repair/replace is not all covered.

Still a good reporter should have covered those angles when doing the story.

But homes burn every day in this country and most civilians get very little local consideration except maybe a sad story in the local paper, a collection at work and a few change jars at local quick stops.