DAN LIPINSKI said, “On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind.” It’s a pledge taken to heart by Freedom Alliance, U.S. Bank, and Ole South Properties, who joined forces to honor the service of U.S. Army Sgt. Xanthin Luptak.
Luptak knew early that his dream home was with the U.S. Army. While other kids dreamed of being a superhero, Luptak dreamed of life as a United States soldier. His dream came true when his mother approved his Army National Guard enlistment paperwork at 17.
He said, “I followed my dreams.”
His dreams took him places he could never imagine beginning with active duty stationed at Hawaii’s Schofield Barracks. From there, he would go on to serve a 15-month deployment to Iraq, where he performed dangerous route-clearing missions; a temporary assignment at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point training cadets on route clearance; a deployment to Afghanistan attached to a special forces unit where he taught the Afghan army and police about improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and munitions and route clearance operations; and a transfer to Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Luptak’s vision of his dream home grew when he met and married Jessica.
Freedom Alliance is a charitable organization providing help and support to wounded troops and military families. U.S. Bancorp, the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, partners with Freedom Alliance’s Heroes to Homeowners program through its Housing Opportunities after Military Engagement (H.O.M.E.) program. And locally owned and operated builder Ole South and its founder and owner, John Floyd, rounded out the mission by constructing the Luptak family’s Shelbyville home.
Tom Kilgannon, president of Freedom Alliance, said, “This is a couple that has been through a great deal, and Xanthin is somebody whose injuries really impact his life for the long term. So a long-term solution is needed to provide him a mortgage-free home that will help him be able to focus on his family and his rehabilitation, just taking care of those priorities in his life.”
Xanthin’s reaction to the gift was priceless.
“I felt relieved. I felt like everything was worth it. I felt like my time overseas, my years in the military, all the hardships, heartache, and the sacrifices my family made were worth it,” he said.
He was exposed to dangerous toxins from burn pits and obtained combat injuries while overseas. Doctors diagnosed him with non-Hodgkin lymphoma while preparing for surgery for his injuries.
“My wife held my hand during chemotherapy, through all my surgeries, and two children. She’s the one that definitely keeps the power in the machine going. I’m a cancer survivor,” said Xanthin.
Medically discharged, the family of four moved to New Hampshire, where Xanthin obtained a bachelor’s degree in project management.
“I saw the email from Freedom Alliance looking for a veteran family to fulfill this home, so we threw our hat in the ring. We didn’t even think we had a chance,” Xanthin said. “Then, through many interviews, phone calls, and video interviews, we were selected.”
On March 22, 2023, Xanthin and his family came home to Shelbyville, where they were given the keys to a mortgage-free home thanks to the collective efforts of organizations and corporations that believe in giving back to those who sacrifice so much for our freedom. GN
