Welcome Home Project Inc.

05/14/2025

Some Gave all. All gave some! The Welcome Home Project is now officially recognized Nationally by the IRS. Our web site is in progress at Welcomehomeproject.org. To those who are local we are hosting a Thank you fundraiser in Cloverdale at the Hamburger Ranch on Saturday the 24th from noon until dark. Come by to meet and greet our local veterans and the occupants of the Cloverdale Welcome Home.

You're a 19 year old kid.
You are critically wounded and dying in the jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

Its November 14, 1965. LZ Landing zone X-ray. Your unit is outnumbered eight to one and the enemy fire is so intense from one hundred yards away, that your commanding officer has ordered the MedEvac helicopters to stop coming in.

You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and you know you're not getting out.
Your family is half way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and you'll never see them again.
As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.
Then - over the machine gun noise - you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter.

You look up to see a Huey coming in. But.. It doesn't seem real because no MedEvac markings are on it.

Captain Ed Freeman is coming in for you. He's not MedEvac so it's not his job, but he heard the radio call and decided he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway.

Even after the MedEvacs were ordered not to come. He's coming anyway. And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 3 of you at a time on board.

Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses and safety. And, he kept coming back!! Thirteen more times!!

Until all the wounded were out. No one knew until the mission was over that the Captain had been hit four times in the legs and left arm.
He took 29 of you and your buddies out that day. Some would not have made it without the Captain and his Huey.

Medal of Honor Recipient, Captain Ed Freeman, US Army, died at the age of 81, in Boise, Idaho. May he rest in peace... God bless our vets!

To learn more about the Vietnam war and America's smallest war hero please check out "The Giant Killer" Audiobook, Book and Documentary available on Amazon, Spotify, iTunes Youtube and most major sites worldwide!

11/25/2024

ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL. BE THE CHANGE IN YOUR WORLD. THIS SIMPLE IDEA IS THE BASIS FOR THE CREATION OF THE WELCOME HOME PROJECT INC.

A couple of weeks ago the wife and I were standing in line at a Sun City Arby's for a quick bite. The line was eight deep when I noticed a old man with the name "Marines" on the back of his baseball cap. He and his "wife" were searching their pockets for change, having decided on getting the $6.00 Special of two fish sandwiches. As they stepped up to place their order, the old man his shaking hands holding little more than $6.00 in change, I excused myself in front of the waiting customers ahead of me to get to the counter. I heard several folks grumble about me cutting in front of them as I made my way to the cashier, but my wife, who had stayed in place, quietly said, just watch. The old man had placed his order of the fish sandwiches and for two water cups. He put his change on the counter and was about to push it to the cashier, when I put my hand on his shoulder and said "Semper Fi Marine", Thank You For Your Service this is on me. I gave the cashier a twenty dollar bill, and said let's start over. Immediately turning to look me in the eye, he responded with "Do or Die"! I helped him finish his order with milkshakes, fries, and a couple of turnovers for dessert. Both had teary eyes as they made their way to a table, and surprisingly so did most of the people I'd cut in front of getting to the counter. Except for the two big bikers who were directly in front of us. They claimed it was allergies that made their eyes leak. We finally received our order and headed to the dining area where we saw that the old couple had made room for us at their table. What had started out as a quick evening meal, ended up being an hour and a half long dinner engagement. I learned that he had slugged it out on both Saipan and later on Iwo Jima as a 19 year old, with Purple Hearts from both actions. For me, some days just don't get better than this.

Credit - original owner

11/12/2024

What better day to make an amazing announcement!!
Out of defeat, the USS Franklin was save by a group of dedicated sailors!! Over 700 sailors were saved from inside the ship by these volunteers.
My father Harry R Mugridge was one of those HEROES! In his honor and memory I founded what has become "The Welcome Home Project Inc."
Today, because of the generous donation of my partner Brian, I have accepted the deed to the house in Cloverdale!!
The "Cloverdale Welcome Home" is now a reality!!
Our first successful resident Arthur, has overcome HUGE challenges in the last year. He has regained his eyesight, & healed from Heart , Lung, Liver, & Kidney failure. He is now becoming a care giver for our newest resident. The American Spirit is Alive and Well in Cloverdale.
Friends. You are more powerful than you can imagine!! You can be a part of this Emerging Miracle. Be an Guardian Angel in your community. Believe in our dream, and we can make it happen.
Happy Veterans Day, and may God bless you all as he has Blessed the Cloverdale Welcome Home and our Veteran Residents.