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Sergeant injured in Iraq to be presented a new home
Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Andrew Beesley, his wife Karleen, and their daughters Andrea (left) and Dakota now live in Channelview. They recently learned that several service organizations are working together to build them a new home.
An Army sergeant who returned home from Iraq in 2007 will soon be presented a new home, thanks to a community fundraising effort spearheaded by local service organizations.
The North Shore Rotary Club and the Galena Park/Jacinto City Rotary Club are collaborating with HelpingaHero.org to raise funds for construction of a new house for Channelview resident Sgt. Andrew Beesley, who graduated from North Shore High School in 2005, and now attends San Jacinto College North.
Beesley returned from duty in Iraq in 2007 and is medically retired from the U.S. Army. While deployed in Iraq, he suffered several serious wounds as a troop transporter and as a gunner on a Humvee. Because of disabilities from the wounds, Beesley was selected to receive a home by HelpingaHero.org, a non-profit organization that builds specially adapted homes for military personnel who have been severely injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Beesley was overwhelmed when he got the news about the new home. “Somehow, the words ‘thank you’ just do not seem adequate to express my sincere gratitude,” he commented. “My parents always taught me that it’s better to give than to receive, and I’ve always tried to live by that principle — through church-related activities, as well as service projects with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Now I’m on the receiving end and I’m sort of at a loss to express how really grateful I am. All I can say is that this house will make such a huge difference for my wife and I and our two daughters (Dakota, 2, and Andrea, 1).”
Beesley’s wife of three years, Karleen, has been a great help in his recovery, assisting him through seizures and walking alongside him as he battles the everyday challenges from his injuries. She says the new house will indeed make a big difference for her family. “Dakota is not even 3 years old and we’ve had to move five times,” she said. “By having our own home, we will be able to stay in one place and have stability as our children grow up.”
As Sgt. Beesley makes progress with his rehabilitation, he has plans to earn a master’s degree and give back to his hometown community as a teacher in Galena Park ISD. He’s well on his way to fulfilling that dream as a student at San Jacinto College. He chose the local college because of its tradition of excellence and because of the schedule flexibility the College provides.
“At San Jacinto College I am able to take a full course load by taking some night classes, combined with some online courses,” he remarked. “San Jac put together a course schedule to fit my unusual needs, which enables me to make the numerous doctor visits and rehab visits that I have to take care of during the day, while attending class in the evenings. And I am able to work on my online assignments any time day or night. They’ve made it possible for me to attend college even during this recovery process.”
After earning an associate degree from San Jacinto College, Beesley plans to transfer to the University of Houston to earn a master’s degree in education, en route to his career as a teacher.
San Jacinto College serves more than 27,000 students in over 140 degrees and certificates in university transfer and technical programs. The College also serves the community through workforce training. Students come to San Jacinto College with various goals and aspirations and we are committed to their success. San Jacinto College. Your Goals. Your College.
For more information about San Jacinto College, please call 281-998-6150 or visit www.sanjac.edu.
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