By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A wounded Army veteran was given a mortgage-free home in Hillsboro last week through an organization that helps veterans, a donation from Wells Fargo, and home renovation work by Home Resort, based in Hillsboro and Tescott.

Taylor Marshall was given the house at 102 S. Washington St. Thursday after applying for it through a program operated by Military Warriors Support Foundation.

Marshall, 29, could not be reached for comment before press time.

According to a biography provided by a spokeswoman for Wells Fargo, Marshall grew up in Colorado and Kansas. Both his father and grandfather served in the military.

He joined the Army in 2008. Marshall was a combat medic who served in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and Afghanistan.

He retired in 2013. He received numerous military awards including the Bronze Star Medal with V Device, commendation medals, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign Star. He wants to earn a college degree and hopes to eventually have a family.

Hillsboro contractor Home Resort renovated the previously-foreclosed home that was donated to Marshall.

“We cannot express enough the amount pride and joy of being able to provide this wounded warrior with a newly remodeled home,” said Chuck Maltbie, owner of Home Resort. “Welcome to Hillsboro, Taylor.”

Military Warriors Support Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity founded by Lt. Gen. Leroy Sisco in 2007. It awards mortgage-free homes only to combat-wounded and spouses of soldiers killed in the line of duty to provide a smooth transition to civilian life.

It also provides recreational activities, transportation, leadership development, and financial monitoring. Through financial monitoring, the organization has helped families pay off nearly $21 million in debt.