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Jared Mouton and family write messages of welcome on the frame of the Del Pozo's new home.  

U.S. Army SPC Fernando DelPozo Jr., center, and his family participate in a ground breaking ceremony after they were presented with a mortgage-free home through Operation Finally Home and Highland Homes Wednesday, June 22, 2022 in Fulshear. The DelPozo family was selected to receive a new, mortgage-free home from Highland Homes! Presenting the DelPozo family with a mortgage-free home was possible through the collective efforts of Highland Homes, Johnson Development, the Houston Texans, USAA, and the Greater Houston Builders Association.

U.S. Army SPC Fernando DelPozo Jr., carries his child, Aurelio, 1, as he walks on his cleared home lot following a ground breaking ceremony after he and his family were presented with a mortgage-free home through Operation Finally Home and Highland Homes Wednesday, June 22, 2022 in Fulshear. The DelPozo family was selected to receive a new, mortgage-free home from Highland Homes! Presenting the DelPozo family with a mortgage-free home was possible through the collective efforts of Highland Homes, Johnson Development, the Houston Texans, USAA, and the Greater Houston Builders Association.

Fort Bend County Pct. 1 Constable Chad Norvell welcome U.S. Army SPC Fernando DelPozo Jr., and his family to their home as they walk along the cleared home lot following a ground breaking ceremony after they were presented with a mortgage-free home through Operation Finally Home and Highland Homes Wednesday, June 22, 2022 in Fulshear. The DelPozo family was selected to receive a new, mortgage-free home from Highland Homes! Presenting the DelPozo family with a mortgage-free home was possible through the collective efforts of Highland Homes, Johnson Development, the Houston Texans, USAA, and the Greater Houston Builders Association.

U.S. Army SPC Fernando DelPozo Jr., and his family walk along the cleared home lot following a ground breaking ceremony after they were presented with a mortgage-free home through Operation Finally Home and Highland Homes Wednesday, June 22, 2022 in Fulshear. The DelPozo family was selected to receive a new, mortgage-free home from Highland Homes! Presenting the DelPozo family with a mortgage-free home was possible through the collective efforts of Highland Homes, Johnson Development, the Houston Texans, USAA, and the Greater Houston Builders Association.

U.S. Army SPC Fernando DelPozo Jr., top left, looks on as his wife Adrenna puts a hard hat on their son Aurelio, 1, before a ground breaking ceremony after they were presented with a mortgage-free home through Operation Finally Home and Highland Homes Wednesday, June 22, 2022 in Fulshear. The DelPozo family was selected to receive a new, mortgage-free home from Highland Homes! Presenting the DelPozo family with a mortgage-free home was possible through the collective efforts of Highland Homes, Johnson Development, the Houston Texans, USAA, and the Greater Houston Builders Association.

On Cherry Vine Road in Fulshear’s Jordan Ranch subdivision, a house is under construction. The frame is ready, and the pipes and wires are installed. However, this isn't an ordinary suburban home.

Words have been jotted on its plywood panels and gray drywall primer — but these aren’t measurements or instructions. They’re messages of love and gratitude. 

“Thank you for your service.”

“May your walls hold joy; every room hold laughter and every window open to great possibility.”

This is the brand-new residence of Purple Heart recipient Fernando Del Pozo Jr. On Friday afternoon, Fernando and Adreena Del Pozo and their three young children Trey, Ari and Lio toured their soon-to-be complete house. The young family walked from beam to beam, reading the messages scribbled on the walls by grateful neighbors and volunteers.  

Last month, the Del Pozo family received an extraordinary surprise — they had been selected to receive a mortgage-free, custom-built home by national nonprofit Operation Finally Home. OPFH joined forces with Texas homebuilder Highland Homes to design the 2,500 square foot house.

OPFH provides homes with modifications for wounded, ill and injured military veterans and their families. Like most OPFH homes it has one story and is wheelchair friendly. Del Pozo does not use a wheelchair, but uses a cane sometimes, after sustaining multiple injuries while serving in Afghanistan. 

“I have had a lot of falls, my knees are just horrible,” he said. “I’ll be able to move around freely without any obstacles.”

The Del Pozo’s house is the 213th specially modified home OPFH has custom built for a veteran.

“Almost all of our combat veterans have to take some kind of medication to sleep,” said Lee Kirgan, vice president of construction at OPFH. “I can't tell you how many times I've had a veteran tell me after they've been in one of these homes for a while that, when they're having a bad night, and they just cannot get to sleep, they think about the notes, all the love that is surrounding them in the home. It calms them and allows them to sleep.”

The four-bedroom, three-and-half bath home is expected to be ready by November. There is also and private study and game room. OPFH and Highland Homes were aided in their efforts by Johnson Development, Houston Texans, USAA, and the Greater Houston Builders Association.

“We've done a few things to make the house a home that (Fernando) can live in for the rest of his life, that is suitable to his needs in the future as well,” said Jarod Mouton, area manager for Highland Homes.

Del Pozo grew up in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He joined the army at 23 in 2009, and was stationed in Tacoma, Washington during his six-year military career, which included a one-year combat deployment to Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012.

Del Pozo served as a lead gunner during his deployment. His convoy was attacked twice within a six-month period.

“In 2011 I got an IED attack—it wasn’t too bad, but I did get some hearing loss and bruised ribs,” Del Pozo said. “Then there was another IED attack, but that one I didn’t walk away from. It flipped my vehicle.”

Del Pozo was temporarily paralyzed from the waist down. The IED explosion left him with a traumatic brain injury, chronic back pain, which restricts movement, arthritis throughout his body, combat-related PTSD and anxiety.

“So, there was a lot of physical therapy. Some days I have my cane or knee brace, some days I don’t.”

Del Pozo said he chose to move to Houston mainly for the warm weather, which has an alleviating effect on his injuries.

“I need the sunshine and heat to survive, like Superman,” he said. “I also have family in Texas. Houston has a huge veteran community. I’m also part of the Wounded Veteran Alumni.”

The Del Pozos currently live in Hockley near Houston, however, the family is looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving in their new home.

“It’s nothing but love,” he said, looking around. “This is phenomenal.”

Juhi Varma is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She primarily covers Fort Bend County.

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