Injured Iraq War Vet Gets Free Home at Darius Rucker Concert in Holmdel

Holmdel, NJ - George Ball, a former staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, was given the key to a newly renovated, mortgage-free home at the Darius Rucker concert Friday night in Holmdel. That's Sgt. Ball at right, with Rucker in the center.

Sgt. Ball's brand-new home is located in Barnegat.

Staff Sgt. Ball enlisted in the Army in 2001 and was deployed three separate times to Iraq in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. It was during his third deployment that he was wounded in an IED attack. Sgt. Ball has received the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

The home was provided by the Military Warriors Support Foundation, which has so far given homes to 710 U.S. veterans. The home was paid for with money provided by the Dr Pepper Snapple Group and Wells Fargo, and executed in partnership with Walmart, which helped execute the home giveaway to Staff Sgt. Ball through the sales of Dr Pepper/Snapple products at participating Walmart stores. Rucker, formerly of Hootie & The Blowfish fame and now exploring country music, has supported the Military Warriors Foundation since 2015.

This will be the 710th mortgage-free home granted to a veteran and the 18th presented during a performance by Darius Rucker.