No More Home to Come Back to :-(((

The Fresno Bee ^ | 11/11/04 | By Charles McCarthy / The Fresno Bee

[JusticeTalion]

Soldier is back in the U.S. on leave after his Chowchilla house burns.

Terry Hitchcock, a soldier stationed in Iraq, is home in Chowchilla on emergency leave to deal with the aftermath of his family's house fire. He hugs his 8-year-old son, Brandon, in the doorway of the burned home under a flag sign yellowed from the fire.

Taking emergency leave from Iraq to return to a fire-gutted house in Chowchilla wasn't the happiest homecoming for Army Spec. Terry Hitchcock, but he and his family were thankful to be together Wednesday.

"I just want to take care of my family and get them settled somewhere," said Hitchcock, 42.

He must return to action Nov. 23, giving him only a brief time to find a new home and help his wife and children find new clothing and furniture. After that, he'll be gone until at least February.

The fire that caused $80,000 in damage started in an electrical plug or cord, fire investigators told the Hitchcocks. The family had no renters insurance and lost nearly all their belongings.

[DoughtyOne]

I've got two words for this guy. Extreme Makeover!

Someone contact ABC's program 'Extremem Makeover' and see what they can do.

[Prime Choice]

The family had no renters insurance and lost nearly all their belongings.

Aw geez. Really bad news right before Thanksgiving.

Any word if there's a fund started to benefit the family of this soldier?

[Mr. Keys]

Where can we donate to help out?

[Texas Eagle]

HOW TO HELP
Fuller Elementary School in Chowchilla will host a luncheon to benefit the Hitchcock family. Food will be served between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 21 in the school's cafeteria, 1101 Monterey Ave.

[OpusatFR]

How about an address to send cash?

[asgardshill]

Here's the link. Hope somebody can email it to this man so he can fill it out.

[Rutles4Ever]

That's a GREAT IDEA.

[add925]

Don't expect the ABC PC Police to allow this Extreme Makeover.
Not a minority...not a single parent(?)...not a 70's druggie burnout....not an academic.....too bad though. Nice idea.

[trussell]

Prayer ping.

My prayers go up for this soldier and his family. Lord, we thank you that you are watching over this family. We thank you that you will guide the people to help in ways that would glorify you. You see the families needs Lord...we ask that you meet those needs in the time this soldier is allowed. I ask this in Jesus' precious name. Amen

Blessings,
trussell

If you want on/off my prayer ping list, please let me know. All requests happily honored.

[Ladysmith]

Ping

[trussell]

Canteen ping

[Texas Eagle]

I've called a friend of the family and left a message asking where to send donations.

As soon as I hear back I will post the info.

Or I suppose I could just post the phone number and we could FReep the snot out of these poor people. What do you think?

[DoughtyOne]

Yeah. I hear ya. It wouldn't hurt to contact them though. They might surprise us.

[asgardshill]

Sorry, that post was intended for you. Here's the link for Extreme Makeover Home. Hope somebody can email it to this man so he can fill it out.

[Spyder]

I just e-mailed the reporter to ask if there was a fund.

[Billthedrill]

BTT. I'm in.

[BienHoa69-70 RVN]

Here is the email address and phone number of the reporter on this story. I emailed him and suggested that his paper sponsor a fund for this family to which I would contribute. Let's get a critical mass of responses to this reporter and "Let's Roll."
cmccarthy@fresnobee.com or (559) 675-6804.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[CDHart]

May God hold this family close to Him now and give them peace and strength. May He ensure that they will have all they need to begin life anew and that they will realize that as long as they still have each other, they'll be OK.

Carolyn