Wounded Veteran Has Home Burglarized On Sunday, Vandalized A few Days Later – Guardian Of Valor

Sgt Irving and son, when he received his new home.

Sanford, Florida – SGT Irving joined the Army in 2006, deployed to Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2011. On June 17, 2012, Irving was struck by the blast of an improvised explosive device (IED) while on foot patrol. As a result of the explosion Irving was left with multiple injuries, including a traumatic brain injury (TBI), loss of hearing, left arm limb salvage, breathing problems and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

I have seen a lot of posts about Sgt Irving from people he served with, one Soldier stated, “He was the kind of Soldier you’d make almost any deal to have him in your Platoon”.  Another said “He is one of the kindest people you will ever come across”.

He was medically retired from the Army in 2013, several months ago, he was blessed with a mortgage free home from from Operation Finally Home. You can see that video here:

This past Sunday, while Sgt. Irving and his family were attending church services, his home was broken into. The thieves got away with more than $6,000 worth of merchandise, including electronics and guns.

According to Mesh.com:

Police said the intruders were able to enter the home through an unlocked door and stole $6,000 worth of electronics and four guns, including an antique pistol.

“My Purple Heart was stepped on. It’s bad when a soldier thinks he’s over there defending his country and his country don’t give a God darn about him,” Irving said.

He said he is working with neighbors to provide the police with new leads.

“The more we talk (and) the more we communicate, hopefully the less happens,” Irving said. “We got a description from them. We got a description from another man. We just got two more descriptions of the same people,” Irving said.

He said his son believes he saw one of the culprits in the backyard Monday.

Here is news coverage of the incident:

I spoke to Mrs. Irving this evening, and to add insult to injury, she tells me that last night their home was vandalized again when someone bashed their mailbox and possibly tried to get in through the front door.

Sgt Irving and his wife, Britney, have five children; four sons aged 15 months, 10, 6, and 4, and a daughter aged 11. She said the safe they were keeping gift cards in to get the children’s school clothes was stolen as well, I asked her to send me a list of what they needed. Below is the list, she said people are more than welcome to come by and drop the stuff off, for those that can’t send items we are running a GoFundme for them. We will run it for a week, then have the check cut and sent directly to them.

Jackie Irving(Boy),  age 10, 4th grade Top x large,  School colors navy ,royal blue, white or yellow polos

Bottom size 36 or 38 in men’s, navy or khaki, shoe size 10 in adults