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The REAL truth about the Sgt David Battle and family!You know something about human nature makes us jump and believe the worse when we here of people defrauding or doing wrong. But word says, 'in all thy getting.. get an understanding.' Do you really want the truth? When the truth comes out and things are recanted the corrections never receive as much attention. You wanted the whole truth I am going to give it to you.. but then what will you do? Will you be as outraged to learn that the Powers that be redirected your focus and misled you? Will you respond to them as you did the Battle family? Let's see. received a call from my cousins David and Lakeisa Battle late last night/ early morning. They were so upset they couldn't sleep and it broke my heart so that I too tossed and turned all night. It seems trouble is never ending for this family. As most of you know, David suffered many injuries in Iraq due to and IED explosion. The list of injuries includes the loss of both legs and his right arm. The entire family has been living in two rooms at the Fisher House at Walter Reed Medical Center since David was transported there following his injuries in December of 2007. We were all so encouraged when the organization, 'Homes for our Troops' came to them in mid 2008 and granted them with a home! They were so excited and have been anxiously awaiting the big move in date for over a year. Yesterday, however, the day before they were due to start moving in, there home where they had lovingly picked out colors and patterns and graciously received donations was snatched back from them by this organization. The Organization stated that they chose to take the home back because they 'found out' that the Battles had two other properties in Fayetteville and that they violated there contract by not revealing ownership of these other properties. It was insinuated that this was done in an attempt to hide something when nothing could be further from the truth. The truth in fact is that the Battles, chose to use the one time $100,000 allotment that all injured soldiers receive from the government to go into business. While $100,000 may appear to be a great deal of money, the Battles were strictly warned of being wasteful and not wanting to end up homeless and unable to work as most Veteran's do in there old age, they consulted a Financial Planner. The planner mapped out a strategy that would help them to be able to support themselves and their family of 4 kids (currently). The plan included purchasing some foreclosed and short sell type properties in a weak economy so that in a few years they could began producing an income that might be able to assist the family. The were wisely advised not to only consider low pricing but to pick good neighborhoods and properties that could escalate in value as opposed to ones in neighborhoods that would deteriorate and end up costing them more money through damages and vandalism. They started searching in the area that they knew best, the place where David's wife had grown up. They did find several properties and decided on purchasing two of them, one was considered a steal at $15,000 because it had been terribly vandalized with gaping holes in all of the walls and every window knocked out. Not to be deterred though, the Battles moved forward in there knew business repairing their investment property. Of course, the cost of revitalizing the home exceeded what they had expected. And consequently, Mrs. Battle began to make frequent trips to Atlanta on the weekend trying to do as much of the work as she could by herself because the family couldn't afford to pay for the ever growing need for repairs in the business that they had selected to help with there retirement. In fact, during one visit, Lakeisa fell from the roof while trying to clean out the gutters and ended up being rushed to the hospital by ambulance. These homes were purchased as a business. They were not purchased to be the family home and are not handicap accessible one of them is even a multi-level home where David would not even be able to easily get to the bedroom without fighting a long flight of stairs. Let me be perfectly clear here so that there are no misunderstanding they can be made like the ones that can easily be assumed by reading the press release from HOMES for our troops. .. the Battles did not own any property when they signed the agreement with Homes for our troops. Nor did they have any money to purchase any properties. The facts that the listed on there application that were used to qualify them were true. They were only advised of Real Estate as a way to prepare for retirement months later. And it was clearly described that it would take several years before they would see a return on there investments. Now, on a personal note, David and Lakeisa Battle have arguments and disagreements, just as any married couple does. The stresses involved in dealing with everyday life can be a trial for even the best of marriages even with two able bodied people with no children. The fact that they have 3 teenagers and a 3 year old is simply par for the course. Add to that the stress of the constant surgeries and additional injuries that David has suffered, the anger and frustration of the situation and you get something that can be volatile. It was during one of her trips to Atlanta to work on the family retirement plan that David and Lakeisa had one such fight and decided to separate. The stress was too much for either of them to deal with. Lakeisa made a sporadic offer on a short sell property that looked to be a good home for her and the kids. A few days later of course, David and Lakeisa made up and couples frequently do, and decided that they would go to marriage counseling to make there marriage work. The family was going to stay together in the Maryland. Three months later, Lakeisa received a call that the offer for the house was accepted. She of course no longer wanted the house because things were looking better for the family with the counseling that they were receiving they were learning how to communicate there fears and frustrations to each other so much better. When she advised the agent of the fact that she no longer wished to purchase she was told that she could be sued by the Agent, the bank that accepted the short sell offer and the current owners because there credit was on the line. Lakeisa was overwhelmed. She spoke with her husband and they decided that they couldn't afford to be sued right now with their retirement resources tied up in rental properties that were only costing money and did not even have tenants in them as of yet. When she told me about the situation, I agreed to try and help. I told her that I would move and occupy the new home and try to assist with as much of the management, maintenance and repairs of the rental properties as possible. Homes for our Troops seems to think that the Battles should have called them when these events took place but I didn't call everyone when my husband and I had a fight and I certainly didn't disclose any of my retirement plan efforts to everyone either. Although they were cautioned about things that could break the contract, it was never stated that they had to disclose any new business ventures that may or may not ( in this market) be helpful toward retirement. Would they have taken back the house if the Battles had placed there money in the just as precarious stock market? This seems so unfair! Now, to my part in the story, when Lakeisa kept telling of David's desire to get out of the cramped living quarters for a family vacation, I suggested that they come here for a few weeks. There are a lot of family members that have not seen David since he was injured because he can't travel as freely. Lakeisa discussed it with David and it became an exciting idea. Lakeisa went out and spent thousands buying supplies to make the house accessible to David. Once again, we underestimated, we thought we could place a ramp on the house and widen some doors and the house would be handicap accessible for David. We quickly learned that a lot more was involved. It's strange but you don't think of things like toilets and handrails and electrical wiring when you think of making a home handicapped accessible. Lakeisa quickly ran out of money to have the labor done an ended up with a basement full of supplies and still no place that David could get away from the hospital for a while. In the meantime, the home that they had been promised from homes for our troops was at stand still. She constantly tried emailing for updates and information to no avail. David's frustration at being boxed in again was beginning to take its toll. When up steps the Dynamic Patriot Guard Riders of Ga. They offered skilled and unskilled labor to help finish the job so that David could get away for a while. They were outstanding partnering with wonderful people like Mr. Parker and his team and Bob the Builder and his team they reformed a basement into a haven that was greater than anyone could have EVER imagined. It included a full size kitchen and bath and all of the amenities that David could ever dream of. It wonderful and all of the volunteers had such warm hearts and bright spirits that it became a anticipated joy to see the reaction that David would have finally being able to get away from Walter Reed Hospital and be in a family environment (not a hotel with strangers staring every time you leave your room). A celebration surprise was scheduled for David's arrival and everyone got busy making sure that everything was in place. Fox 5 news aired a story a few days before David's arrival to talk about the wonderful work of all the volunteers that stepped up to help and .... The bottom fell out. Homes for our troops decided that they no longer wanted to give the home to David that many had donated to expressly for him and his family. They claimed not to have known about the project to remodel the basement in GA when in fact Lakeisa had spoken with a representative from the organization months before. She had given the information about the Patriot Guard Riders to the rep and even offered to stop the project if it would jeopardize the home that they were being gifted in Maryland. She was asked who was this where the family was going to be living, was this to be their home? Lakeisa told her that the family would have to reside in the MD/DC area for some time that her husbands injuries mandated that he have therapy daily at Walter Reed so that Md had to be home. That the renovations were being done to the basement that, I, her cousin now call home. I know she had this conversation as I was standing beside her when it happened. The rep also called the organization to verify that the Battles had not solicited the help or received any financial assistance. How could they claim not to have known when they made verification calls to the Patriot Guard Rider's? She was reminded about not doing any publicity until the home was complete. She agreed and held up her part of the agreement. The story that aired was about the volunteerism of the Patriot Guard Riders and Lakeisa was not even aware of it. Homes for our troops after using David and his story for over a year to raise all of the funds and materials needed for his home said they were taking it from him because: The partnership agreement indicates that Homes For Our Troops can withdraw support for cause and one specifically stated is 8.3.2 I fail to see a felony criminal act in trying to provide for your family's retirement or for accepting unsolicited help to provide him with a home away from home where he can get away for a while. There was no falsification or omission on the application that was completed to determine eligibility. HFOT has the deeds that show that these investments were made months after that agreement. I definitely don't consider $100,000 to be great significant wealth if that is the case HFOT should know that every injured soldier receives it, but many don't invest it. They allow it to dwindle away. Will HFOT go and take their homes away now? Why would they wait until the day before to disgrace a wounded soldier this way. I can't believe that an organization recognized by the American Institute of Philanthropy would behave in such a manner. How could they treat a wounded warrior this way? I am at a lost... I don't know what to do. . it seems to be yet another horrible tragedy for this family and if anyone can think of anything that can be done.. please PLEASE tell me.. This set back has been so depressing for a family that has already endured so much loss. Perhaps, if Lakeisa had been able to contact her regular rep with Homes for our troops she would have known that this could happen, maybe if she hadn't acted so rashly when they had a spat, maybe if they had told her that she needed to notify them of ANY business ventures not ones that would cause a huge sum of money this wouldn't have happened. I know hindsight is always 20/20 but this seems to be soooo wrong. We all make mistakes but should they really be this punishing. Now the family has no place to live in a place that will be home for a long time to come. I have never seen volunteer efforts and a desire by everyday people backfire in such a way. Somebody HELP!!! Anybody please help! Here you have it. Your move! What will you do? (my guess is,,, you'll sigh and say..oh what a shame. That poor family will you offer and apology for your angry words or quick deeds?). truthrevealer's blog | login to post comments
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