'Extreme Home' for Mississippi Guardsman airs March 21

From news release

Staff Sgt. Sherman Heathcock of the Mississippi National Guard and his family were recently selected as the recipients of the new house from the ABC television show, "Extreme Makeover - Home Edition." The house was built Dec. 3-10. Heathcock is currently deployed to Iraq with the 155th Brigade Combat Team which is scheduled to return home in February. (Courtesy photo)
download hi-res photo

(3/18/10) - "Heathcock family — Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" travels to Hattiesburg, Miss., to meet Sherman Heathcock, a devoted husband and father who re-enlisted in the Army National Guard following 9/11.

In that time, he has served two tours of duty in Iraq, where he led squads in combat missions.

When he is fortunate to spend time at home, Heathcock works several jobs, which leaves little time to repair the devastating damage to their home left by Hurricane Katrina.

On this episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," which airs on March 21 on ABC, Ty Pennington and the designers will have the opportunity to give back to this soldier, who has given so much to his country and his community.

Heathcock, 39, and his wife Gina, 40, are working themselves to the bone in order to afford the best education for their children Annie, 12, Gary, 10, and Tessa, 7.

In addition to his work for the Army National Guard, Sherman works as a sheriff's deputy, a SWAT team leader, a grocery store security guard, a neighborhood watch group organizer, and volunteers his time to provide security for his kids' school and coach his son's football and baseball teams while Gina works part time as a paralegal.

During Sherman's first tour in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina sent several large trees crashing through their property and onto their home.

Adding insult to injury, while beginning to tackle the long list of repairs, Gina fell victim to a re-roofing scam. The rotting ceilings and damaged foundation are crumbling beneath them and with Sherman currently serving in Iraq, his wife and kids are worried about losing the battle in their own home.

The Heathcock family will go on vacation to Disney World while "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" team leader Ty Pennington, designers Michael Moloney, John Littlefield, and Paige Hemmis, celebrity volunteer Christian Slater and community volunteers rebuild their home, while Celine Dion and the Jonas Brothers also make special guest appearances.

Printer Friendly