New Home For Deserving Wounded Illinois Guard Soldier

Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Kassidy L. Snyder

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Sgt. Dennis “Alex” Pracht of Centralia, stands with a key that symbolizes a new home that was awarded by the Homes 4 Wounded Heroes, July 6at the John Deere Classic Golf Tournament in Silvis.

SILVIS (07/07/2011)(readMedia)-- Retired Lt. Gen. Leroy Cisco announced that Sgt. Dennis "Alex" Pracht, is the latest recipient of a home from the Homes 4 Wounded Heroes program. The announcement came during a private presentation at the John Deere Classic Golf Tournament in Silvis, July 6.

"I've got to confess," said Cisco as he glared toward Pracht. "I've been lying to you and you're getting a new home."

Pracht, of Centralia, who was injured by an improvised explosive device detonation while deployed in 2009 to Afghanistan with the Illinois National Guard's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment based in Marion, said he thought he was just going to the event to represent wounded Soldiers and had no clue about the home.

Cisco, the founder of the Military Warriors Support Foundations which he started roughly four and a half years ago, helps veterans with employment, scholarships and recreation. Ten months ago, the foundation started awarding homes, said Cisco.

Pracht said he thought it was pretty phenomenal and thanked everyone in the crowd from the Community Based Warrior in Transition Unit (CBWTU) based at the Rock Island Arsenal for all the help and support they provided him throughout his recovery.

Staff Sgt. Jay Lawson, Pracht's platoon sergeant at the CBWTU, was the person who initially nominated Pracht for the home.

Lawson was approached by Ken Eakes, the executive director for the foundation, who was looking for potential wounded Soldiers that would benefit greatly from receiving a home. Ken was looking for Bronze Star or Purple Heart recipients that were struggling to adjust back into the community and had great potential, but due to injuries were being held back, said Lawson.

"I have the perfect person for you," said Lawson.

Instantly, Lawson said he thought of Pracht and worked closely with Eakes to ensure that Pracht's application for a home was sent forward.

Lawson said he knew well in advance of the presentation that Pracht was going to get the home, but did not let him in on the secret.

The foundation will assign a mentor to Pracht who will take a look at available homes on the market. Then together they will select the home that best fits his needs, said Eakes. The foundation will then refurbish the house from top to bottom, ensuring that there will be no foreseeable problems for the next five years. They will also take into consideration physical limitations of the wounded Soldier and adjust to suit his needs.

After the home is complete, Pracht will receive three years of mentoring and formal financial training to ensure he gets off on the right foot, said Eakes.

Since deployment, Pracht is recovering from his injuries and has gone back to school to become a physician's assistant. He said getting this home will help him out tremendously and allow him to focus on being with his 8-month-old daughter.