Iraq vet, family survive deadly Tennessee tornadoes

[unhappycamper]

Iraq vet, family survive deadly Tennessee tornadoes
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, February 10, 2008

WASHINGTON — Staff Sgt. Jason Pepper and his family miraculously escaped uninjured from this week’s deadly Tennessee tornadoes even though the storms ripped the roof off his home with them inside.

Pepper was blinded in Iraq while saving fellow soldiers during an ambush in May 2004. He was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with a valor device for his actions.

Pepper bought the new home outside Fairview, Tenn., some 20 miles southwest of Nashville, just two years ago.

His wife, Heather, said the family was watching television Thursday night when a news report warned of tornadoes in their neighborhood.

“I grabbed the two dogs and the baby and ran through the kitchen, and I could see through the window the funnel cloud coming right for us,” she said. “As soon as I closed the shelter door, the tornado hit the house.”


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52347

[Lars39]

1. There were about 21 houses destroyed in Fairview.

And many more received heavy damage. :(